Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should have had the “common kindness” to tell the queen about their upcoming “nuclear” TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, a royal expert said.
The couple did not inform Her Majesty in advance that they intend to participate in the 90-minute special, where they will discuss why they dramatically resigned as senior kings last year.
Appearing in Lorraine today, royal editor Russell Myers said that although the couple had no obligation to tell the company their plans, it would have been the most appropriate thing.
“If you want to set off such a nuclear bomb, doing a huge interview that will no doubt attract attention on global networks, the decent thing to do would be to tell the Queen, tell your grandmother you’re going to do it.” he said.
He predicted that the royal family would be “horrified” by their plans to attract the attention of the global press and called the choice “a funny change of tact” for a couple who “complained about privacy and intense media control”.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not tell Her Majesty about their full interview. Pictured are Meghan, Harry and the Queen at an awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 26, 2018
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will probably discuss why they dramatically resigned as senior kings during the 90-minute special. In the photo, Oprah Winfrey is photographed at Harry and Meghan’s Windsor Castle wedding on May 19, 2018
“We know that they went alone and established this path for themselves, the fact is that now they are separated from the royal family,” Myers said.
“The palace assistants said they shouldn’t tell us if they didn’t want to, but they would think there was common courtesy.”
Sources close to Sussex told the London Evening Standard yesterday that the couple still has a good relationship with the queen, the duke’s grandmother.
Appearing in Lorraine today, Royal Editor Russell Myers (pictured) claimed that “the decent thing to do” was to inform Her Majesty of their interview plans.
He told host Ranvir Singh that the choice was a “funny change of tact” for a couple who “complained about privacy and intense media scrutiny.”
Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey, photographed together on CBS in April 2019, are best friends. Gayle told CBS This Morning yesterday: “I am told that nothing is forbidden. He can ask whatever he wants’
A royal source said that since the couple no longer works as royalty, any decision made on “media commitments is for them”.
The source added that the Sussex “have no obligation” to inform the Royal House about the interview, which was announced by CBS in a press release.
Oprah’s best friend, Gayle King, told the presenter that he had been given complete freedom on the topics the couple was discussing – which Myers predicted would have “disastrous consequences” for the company.
“History is there to be seen,” Myers said. “Whenever family members do these big interviews, they all have disastrous consequences. Look recently at Prince Andrew, back in the 90’s with Diana and Charles, we’re still talking about them now.
A photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was released on Sunday, while a spokesman for the couple announced: “We can confirm that Archie will be an older brother.”
He added: “It was reported this week that they met Oprah only once before their wedding, so I think she’s a trusted friend, she’s on shaky ground.”
CBS described the interview as an “intimate conversation,” including a “wide-ranging interview” with Meghan. about “everything from stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work to how she manages life under intense public pressure.”
Myers predicted that the news of the “explosive” interview would have been “terrible” for the royal family, adding that the discussion was a “funny change of tact” for a couple who emphasized their desire for privacy.
He said: “It is absolutely terrifying news, I would say, for the royal family. The fact that Gail King is preparing so hard for Oprah’s big interview, saying that they really wanted to get it and it will be really explosive.
“The very fact that Oprah received a white card to ask for anything will make the royal family very, very nervous indeed.”
Myers added: “It’s a funny change of tact when you’ve complained about privacy and intense media scrutiny, to sign up for the potential queen of chat shows in the world, to be broadcast on millions and millions of people. ”
Recently, The Daily Mail revealed that Harry and Meghan will lose all remaining royal patronage after the queen asked the couple to give up their ties with any organization passed down through the royal family.
Harry, 36, will be eliminated from the remaining three honorary military titles and possibly his patrons with the Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League and London Marathon.
Meghan, 38, should step down as the National Theater’s patron unless she can negotiate another position with them.
When she was offered the role in 2019, it was seen as a major gesture of support and affection, as the queen has been the owner of the 45-year-old London institution.
Speaking of the decision, Myers said, “I think she always came and reading between the lines, the queen said, ‘You can’t have one foot in and one foot out.’
“Harry will be stripped of his military titles, the honorary titles he loves so much, and together with Meghan he was made the Patron of the National Theater that the queen held for over 45 years.
“There will be a lot of people in those associations who will be sad to see them leave because they are really based on that association with family members.”