Oprah’s interview of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (February 2021) appeared on US television on Sunday night, March 7th, and on UK television the following night. It should be required viewing for the 2 billion who saw their storybook wedding in 2018. As with all true fairy tales, this one has a dark side.
The Little Mermaid: Meghan Markle compares herself to the Little Mermaid: she lost her voice to marry her prince – but then, with this interview, got it back.
When she married her prince they took her passport, her driver’s licence and her car keys. She was a prisoner. Trapped. So was the prince himself.
The British press they expected to be savage, racist even, but they also expected the Firm (the British Royal Family as a business) to stand up for them, as they have for other relatives. They did not.
Comparing avocados with avocados: The British press saw Meghan Markle in a much different light than her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William. In 2017, The Express said:
“Kate’s morning sickness cure? Prince William gifted with an avocado for pregnant Duchess.”
But in 2019, when Meghan was pregnant:
“Meghan Markle’s beloved avocado linked to human rights abuse and drought, millennial shame”
And that is just one example of the double standard that informed their view of Meghan Markle. I have seen this before. I wrote about it in How white people think.
Skin colour: When Meghan was pregnant with Archie, one unnamed royal talked with Harry several times about fears that their child would be too dark-skinned. Meghan’s mother is Black.
Suicidal ideation: Meghan only heard the stories in the British press second-hand, from friends and family. But even second-hand it was enough to drive her to thoughts of suicide. The Firm prevented her from seeking help from a doctor!
Archie: When Archie was born, he was not given the title due to the grandson of a future king – and therefore neither was he given protection, against kidnappers and such.
Basically, Meghan and Archie were left to twist in the wind.
Megxit: And then when Harry and Meghan left the Firm – left the Royal Family as employees, not as relatives – Meghan was blamed for it, not the Firm. The British press even called it Megxit. But by the time they left the Firm, in early 2020, the Firm had already left them – high and dry, with no way to protect themselves.
Meghan freed not just herself but also her prince. He says his father and brother, Charles and William, are still “trapped”, that Meghan saved him.
The Queen: They both adore Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and see her as a warm and loving person. Yet she is the very head of the Firm that would not properly protect them or stand up for them! With friends like that, who needs enemies? Meghan blames not individual royals but “the institution”. Harry says the Royal Family is in bed with the British press – they both need each other too much.
– Abagond, 2021.
See also:
- Meghan Markle
- Oprah
- Afua Hirsch: Brit(ish) – on British racism
- Bridgerton – an alternate universe of Black dukes and queens in Regency England
- Jackie
- prejudice
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Abagond 
A true love story!
Prince Harry has proven that he stands by his wife and damned be the royal palace and its figures! Beautiful love!
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Of course, they love the queen. By design, she doesn’t get her hands dirty. And even if they know she’s behind it all, what do you think would happen to them or their children if they dare painted her in a less than perfect light? They can’t even name the specific other Royals who were racist toward them. If they can’t name them, you know they can’t say anything disparaging about the Queen.
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#abolishthemonarchy has been trending since the interview.
One thing I found telling was that Harry said they wouldn’t have been able to pay for security on their own without the money his mother left him. That inheritance is what allowed them to leave. So in a way, Diana is still turning the Firm topsy-turvy.
When Harry said he did what any husband would have done in a toxic family situation, I had to wonder if that was a dig (perhaps subconscious) at his father.
I would love for him to name names. I think most people assume the remarks about Archie’s skin color were made by an older member of the family. But what if it was William?
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@ Solitaire
I think there were several digs at his father.
I was thinking it was WIlliam too. But I would be surprised if Charles and Liz did NOT bring up skin colour in private.
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@ Abagond
“I think there were several digs at his father.”
I haven’t watched the interview, just read some articles. Now I may have to watch it!
I worry that Harry may have (again, probably subconsciously) chosen to marry a woman who had something about her that would give him a chance to protect her and stand up for her the way his father didn’t do for his mother. Of course, that could be part of it without necessarily meaning they don’t have a strong bond in other, healthier ways. I hope they do for her sake.
“I was thinking it was WIlliam too. But I would be surprised if Charles and Liz did NOT bring up skin colour in private.”
I have a hard time believing it was only one member of the royal family.
The more I think about it, the more I believe Harry was talking about William. Harry has to know if it was one of the old folks, much of the white population of Britain would be likely to say, “Well, they’re old and they’re going to die soon, and that way of thinking will die out with them.” An excuse that wouldn’t work with William — and Harry said naming the person would bring that individual nothing but trouble. Also, back in 2019 rumor had it William and Harry were on the outs, possibly not even on speaking terms.
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Meghan Markle’s Mom has some white ancestry, too…Markel is less than 40% African genetically, no way Archie will look black. Whichever royal said that doesn’t understand genetics and how phenotypes work. Archie will probably look white, if not British/German, then definitely Italian/Iberian.
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@All
The reason why Meghan looks the way she does is in large part due to the European ancestry on the Ragland side of the family. Like other American blacks, Meghan’s mom has considerable amounts of white blood, and her marriage and union to Tom Markle (and thus, Meghan’s birth) only increased the level of European ancestry. Keep in mind that the reason why they called Obama black (but not Meghan) is because unlike Doria, Obama’s dad was a full blooded African from a tribe in Kenya. Not so with Meghan. There is no such thing as a full blooded black in America because the truth of the matter is, most black Americans are more European than they are black. I mean, put Meghan’s mom next to Obama’s dad and you’ll see what I mean. Genetically, Meghan’s white.
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Tyler Perry is a good and compassionate soul. God bless him.
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Oprah Winfrey is a master class in interviewing.
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@Everett F. Pomare
“There is no such thing as a full blooded black in America because the truth of the matter is, most black Americans are more European than they are black.”
In the west, “Black” does not only apply to fully African. I feel like you’re conflating the two when socially and politically, the construct is designed differently here and always has been. We are Black because we have African-descent no matter the percentage. The whole biracial, multiracial tag is a relatively new concept. Anyone with even the tiniest percentage of African ancestry here is considered Black. The construct is being reshaped as we speak, but I doubt “Black” will EVER apply only to 100% African in origin.
We may not be “full blooded” African, but we are absolutely “full blooded” Black and that’s by design, my friend. If we’ve learned nothing else from these royal revelations, it’s that try as some may to change the construct, the Crown (largely responsible for its creation) is still abiding by the one-drop rule. To them, Meg is Black. Full-blooded and period.
(It’s only in the last decade or two that I’ve even known Africans to self-identify as Black. Those who’ve emigrated to the U.S. have often said it was a shock to them to be called Black upon arrival. Again, I’m talking about pre-ten or twenty years ago. I personally have known Jamaicans who’ve felt the same way until recently. Historically, Black has always been a label applied to those born in the U.S.)
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” on Wed Mar 10th 2021 at 13:23:12
Mary Burrell
Tyler Perry is a good and compassionate soul. God bless him. ”
I wonder if his “longtime girlfriend Gelila Bekele” concurs after he kicked her to the curb?
” I mean, put Meghan’s mom next to Obama’s dad and you’ll see what I mean. Genetically, Meghan’s white.” Wishful thinking on your part. There’s no guaranty that a mixed race person will have children of a particular color. The fact that the kid turned out like Casper the friendly Ghost is mostly due to luck, the next one could be as black as Meghan’s mom. Does the name Sandra Laing mean anything to you? “Her African features were almost certainly a throwback to an unknown ancestor whose DNA, having lain dormant for generations, had emerged in her.” Whenever the question of race and/or color comes up, people feel entitled to make exaggerated claims.
(https://abagond.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/sandra-laing-a-black-girl-born-to-white-parents/)
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Reblogged this on Steph's Blog and commented:
See. The royal family isn’t that tolerant of anyone different from them. Look at how they treated Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson. Duchess Meghan’s treatment is far worse than the aforementioned women because she’s a woman of Color.
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@ Solitaire
If I had to bet, I would say it was all three – Charles, Liz and William. I agree that William’s comments would be way more disturbing, harder to write off.
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Related to this event and after a heated debate with a colleague at the ITV’s “Good Morning Britain”, Piers Morgan left the show.
One interesting point raised by Morgan is that Meghan Markle was not possibly being truthful to facts when stating that his son with Harry was not going to receive a full status as heir of the British throne (at some position along a line that begins with Prince Charles).
Piers Morgan goes further telling that he does not believe other allegations by Meghan Markle either.
See,
bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56334082
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CORRECTION: Not “his son with Harry” but “her son with Harry”
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So many conversations to be had about racism and race in America and the UK. The inconvenient truth about this whole situation is that Megan Markle, even though she is a light skinned Black woman, she got that N-word wake up call. Her light skin and phenotype gave her access to many things and places, compared to what a dark skinned Black woman with prominent African phenotype would not have. Her mental health was affected from being excoriated by the racism in the British tabloids and press. It was chilling how the so called firm would not give her support or wouldn’t let her get help.
It’s still amazing to me how Megan Markle was so naive about racism, after being raised by a Black mother. She was very naive about the history of the Royals. Her naïveté had me scratching my head. Harry having lived in a privilege bubble was ignorant of racism until he saw how Megan was being attacked. Privilege is a hellva a drug.
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Nobody should be surprised that racism exists in the Monarchy. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway? Especially the colonialism, heredity, hierarchy, a caste system, and white supremacy. America is the offspring of Great Britain, which is the mother of white supremacy and colonialism.
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Piers Morgan is a swine and a troll. Shout out to weatherman Alex Beresford for reading Piers Morgan for filth. Piers Morgan can dish it out but he can’t take it. Piers Morgan is a married man obsessing over Megan Markle. Piers Morgan, creates drama and skitters off the set like the roach he is. Piers Morgan’s trolling is what made him a rich man.
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The Royals need to stand up in their mess and admit they are racist and colonizers.
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I used to be pretty indifferent to Prince Harry and Meghan markle but since watching this shockingly contrived interview I really can’t stand them. Nothing was questioned or fact checked and the truth is she lied all the way through it.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9356741/Harry-Meghan-inconvenient-truth.html
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“Nobody should be surprised that racism exists in the Monarchy. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway? Especially the colonialism, heredity, hierarchy, a caste system, and white supremacy. America is the offspring of Great Britain, which is the mother of white supremacy and colonialism.”
@Mary Burrell: Perfect summation!
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And lastly, Megan Markle’s proximity to whiteness didn’t save her from the anti-blackness of the Monarchy.
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This :
So many conversations to be had about racism and race in America and the UK. The inconvenient truth about this whole situation is that Megan Markle, even though she is a light skinned Black woman, she got that N-word wake up call. Her light skin and phenotype gave her access to many things and places, compared to what a dark skinned Black woman with prominent African phenotype would not have. Her mental health was affected from being excoriated by the racism in the British tabloids and press. It was chilling how the so called firm would not give her support or wouldn’t let her get help.
It’s still amazing to me how Megan Markle was so naive about racism, after being raised by a Black mother. She was very naive about the history of the Royals. Her naïveté had me scratching my head. Harry having lived in a privilege bubble was ignorant of racism until he saw how Megan was being attacked. Privilege is a hellva a drug.
And This:
Nobody should be surprised that racism exists in the Monarchy. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway? Especially the colonialism, heredity, hierarchy, a caste system, and white supremacy. America is the offspring of Great Britain, which is the mother of white supremacy and colonialism.
I guess only a veteran contributor to this blog can come close to understanding this issue.
Here’s the problem in this increasingly obsolete format
we are supposed to pay attention and value these people –
the English Monarchy
being a king queen prince or princess
royalty
the queen is a nice person ,why ? because she is a elderly white female.
oprah a very famous and wealthy african american female.
who got her wealth and fame by publicly catering to the media interests of white females.
its this delusion status coerced from people that is the problem.
america was never a democracy only briefly a republic and now a permeant global empire
we african americans are the only involuntary imigrant group
also the only group for which slavery was enforced exclusively due to our africaness and color.
we have been and still are regularly abused assulted raped and murdered.
some of us as a result of rape and genetics are phenotypically identical to white europeans but
white europeans are very strict and attentive in regards to lingage and there fore the one drop rule – even if visually identical ,if your parent is african ,your african
a inherently inferior devil and monster deserving of slavery who if you have any sense should be grateful for the previlge of being civilzied.
and yet I hear king and queen bandied about by various members of the african american comunity ith little sense of reflection or irony.
I could say more ,but as I said in the beginning of my diatribe
This is and increasingly obsolete medium
I used fret over what abgond or some the other commenters looked like
I lamented not knowing their actual names or the sound of their voices
gone now .like my personal proverty such minor mysteries and inconventices
but the love and respect for the history and beauty that is african people
that has been affirmed here on this blog numerous times
I shall carry with me all my life
And what of trolls the slang term for antagonistic spite people who come to a blog uninvited with intent only to contribute abuse?
they to fall ,as we hope the empire meets the end of its days
The new and emerging medium is visual
how wonderful to now see and hear a cell or atom or the most beautiful and intelligent beings discuss all topics close to heart
And find ones self in such abundance and yet still inadquate to both previlge and task.
how could I dare dream of balance and justice much less love fulfilled.
but apparently thats the way the world is
anyway the new medium is more expansive and has greater reach
you can even produce dynamic interactive content with others in real time
only to see it too become static information to archive.
thanks for reading
I enjoy this blog.
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https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/09/europe/prince-archie-princess-lilibet-royal-title-intl/index.html
Now, it seems, Meghan can put her worries about the royal rights of her children to rest. They are full standing members of the royal family. Thank God!
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