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Fallout from Harry and Meghan’s incendiary interview continues

The Queen has taken the first step in healing divisions by publicly acknowledging the ‘challenging’ period they experienced when working royals.

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The fallout from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s incendiary Oprah Winfrey interview continues, with Piers Morgan leaving Good Morning Britain following comments he made about Meghan.

Buckingham Palace said the issues raised in the interview, especially over race, were concerning and would be addressed by the royal family privately.

Morgan left the ITV show on Tuesday after an on-air row with weather presenter Alex Beresford, who criticised him for “continuing to trash” the duchess.

He faces an Ofcom investigation after the regulator received 41,000 complaints when he said on Monday he “didn’t believe a word” the royal said during her interview.

Piers Morgan speaks to reporters outside his home in Kensington, central London, the morning after it was announced that he was leaving Good Morning Britain
Piers Morgan speaks to reporters outside his home in Kensington, central London, the morning after it was announced that he was leaving Good Morning Britain (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Meanwhile, American broadcaster CBS said nearly 50 million people have watched the two-hour interview worldwide, with the figure continuing to grow due to availability on streaming services.

The Queen has taken the first step in healing divisions after the couple’s interview was aired to UK audiences on Monday by publicly acknowledging the “challenging” period they experienced when they were working royals.

The family appear to be at odds over the version of some events described by the Sussexes, but the sympathetic tone of a Buckingham Palace statement suggests a reconciliation through dialogue in private is the aim.

The statement said: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members.”

The palace statement will be an attempt to draw a line under a series of bombshell claims made by the Sussexes that have thrown the monarchy into a crisis that threatens to damage its reputation around the world.

Queen Elizabeth II marks 69 years as monarch
The royal family are expected to resolve their problems in private (Phil Harris/Daily Mirror/PA)

Plagued by suicidal thoughts, Meghan received no help from the monarchy after approaching staff – even the human resources department.

Winfrey was left open-mouthed when the couple recounted how a family member – not the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh – raised concerns about how dark their son Archie’s skin tone might be before he was born.

There were also revelations about the rift between Harry and his father the Prince of Wales, and claims the duke was financially cut off by the family just as he was about to embark on his new life with Meghan and son Archie in North America.

Charles chuckled nervously when he was asked if he had seen Meghan and Harry’s interview with Winfrey during a visit to a pop-up Covid vaccination clinic at a London church.

Oprah Winfrey interviews Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Harry and Meghan during their interview with Winfrey (Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions/PA)

The source added: “The prince is proud of the diversity of this country and believes the diversity of Britain’s modern society is its greatest strength.”

There has been speculation about the length of time it took Buckingham Palace to release its statement just before 5.30pm on Tuesday and more than 36 hours since the Winfrey interview was screened in America.

But the delay likely allowed for all senior members of the royal family on both sides of the Atlantic time to join discussions and the British public to watch the full programme aired in the UK on Monday night.

It is understood the response was also timed to allow for a carefully considered reaction.

The monarch and aides from all royal households will have been in crisis summits working out how to respond to the damaging allegations.

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