Anger over racism claims continues to be heard
Buckingham Palace’s response to Prince Harry and Meghan’s allegations of racism and mistreatment has failed to quiet the controversy, with some observers criticizing the royal family for not forcefully condemning racism and suggesting the couple’s version of events may not be accurate.
“Too little, too late” was the verdict of royal commentator Peter Hunt, who also criticized the palace’s 61-word statement for saying the issue would be dealt with privately as a family matter. “This delayed, tame statement went for predictability when unpredictability — stepping out of the Windsor comfort zone — was what was needed,” Hunt wrote on the website of the influential British magazine The Spectator.
The statement, issued on behalf the queen, was released 36 hours after the interview of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex by Oprah Winfrey was broadcast in the United States.
The comments were the palace’s first word since the interview rocked the royal family — and touched off conversations around the world about racism, mental health and even the
relationship between Britain and its former colonies.
“There are big questions here that need to be answered, and I think the press, both in the UK, Europe and in the USA, are going to continue to ask questions about the family relationship that exists between Harry and Meghan and the Windsors in the UK,” said Ed Owens, a historian of British monarchy. Meghan, who is biracial, said in the interview she was so isolated and miserable as a working member of the royal family that she had suicidal thoughts. She
also said Harry told her there were “concerns and conversations” about the color of her baby’s skin when she was pregnant with their son, Archie.