Prince William says royal family is ‘very much not a racist family’ after Harry and Meghan interview

Prince William defended his family after his brother Harry and Meghan Markle’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. USA TODAY

Prince William spoke publicly about Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s bombshell interview for the first time Thursday, denouncing claims the royal family is racist. 

“We’re very much not a racist family,” he told reporters during a visit to a London school, adding that he has not spoken to his brother “yet,” but plans to. 

An explosive interview with Harry and Meghan, conducted by Oprah Winfrey, aired Sunday in the U.S. and featured shocking revelations the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made about why they stepped down from their royal roles and fled to America last year, including a claim that someone at the palace – but neither the queen nor Prince Philip – raised conversations when Meghan was pregnant about “how dark” her future baby’s “skin might be when born.” 

William’s comments follow a formal statement released Tuesday by Buckingham Palace on behalf of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, saying the couple’s accusations of racism and lack of support are taken “very seriously” and will be addressed by the royal family “privately.”

During a Sunday night special on CBS, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan made a number of shocking revelations to Oprah about their royal roles. USA TODAY

“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,” the statement read. “While 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.”

More Harry and Meghan: How their interview revelations echo Princess Diana’s bombshell 1995 interview

More response: Queen Elizabeth responds to Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview, will address allegations ‘privately’

Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge gesture during a visit to School21 following its re-opening after the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in east London on March 11, 2021.

 (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS, AFP via Getty Images)

In the Oprah interview, Harry acknowledged a strain in his relationship with his older brother: “the relationship is spaced at the moment. And, you know, time heals all things, hopefully.”

He added at another point: “I love him to bits, we’ve been through hell together, we had a shared experience, but we’re on different paths.”

Prince Charles, William and Harry’s father, made his first public appearance since the interview on Tuesday, and said nothing in response to reporters’ questions.

Of his father, Harry told Winfrey he had “two conversations with my father” before the two eventually stopped talking and admitted feeling “let down” by the Prince of Wales.

“Because he’s been through something similar, he knows what pain feels like and Archie is his grandson,” he said. “At the same time, I will always love him. I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try and heal that relationship.”

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Contributing: Maria Puente

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