‘We’re not racist’, Prince William responds after Meghan and Harry interview

Prince William said on Thursday that Britain’s royals were not racist after Meghan, his younger brother Harry’s wife, said one unnamed member of the family had asked how dark their son Archie’s skin might be.

An explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey,  Meghan, 39, made the allegation,  plunging the British monarchy into its biggest crisis since the 1997 death of Princess Diana, William, and Harry’s mother. Meghan and Harry were both there in the interview which was aired on Sunday.

On a visit to a school in east London, William said he had not talked to Harry since the interview was out just over three days ago.

William, 38, said, “I haven’t spoken to him yet but I will do.” 

On asking if the royal family was racist, William said to a reporter, “We’re very much not a racist family.”

Nearly three years after their star-studded wedding in Windsor Castle, in the two-hour show, Meghan said the royals had ignored her pleas for help while she felt suicidal, while Harry said his father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, had let him down and that he had felt trapped in the royal family.

On Tuesday, on behalf of 94-year-old Queen Elizabeth,  the princes’ grandmother, Buckingham Palace issued a statement in which she said the family was saddened by how challenging the couple had found the last few years.

However, the couple’s accusation that one of the royals had made a racist comment has dominated coverage and has the potential to cause lasting damage to the 1,000-year-old monarchy.

Almost as soon as the interview with Oprah Winfrey was aired, many were quick to deny Meghan’s allegations of racism against the royal family. The New York Post published a column titled, “Meghan Markle’s interview was full of bull.” British television host Piers Morgan said on air that Meghan lied about suffering suicidal thoughts in what he called a “two-hour trash-a-ton of our royal family.” Later on, he quit his job “Good morning Britain” after facing a backlash. 

The couple outspoke about media what they say is press reporting tainted by racism.

Soon after the interview, many celebrities including Serena Williams and Hugh Jackman tweeted in support of the Royals. Calls to abolish monarchy hit Twitter. However, many others tweeted saying Meghan is a liar.