In their interview with Oprah, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle suggested that the Royal Family’s reluctance to give their son Archie an official title may have been racially motivated. They say a member of the family had conversations with Harry about ‘how dark’ their child’s skin might be. Neither Meghan or Harry would name the royal in question, with Meghan saying it would be ‘very damaging to them.’
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Why wasn’t Archie given a title?
Meghan said that she wasn’t concerned about the ‘grandeur’ of a royal title, but said:
The idea of our son not being safe and also the idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be… It's not their right to take it away... While I was pregnant they said they want to change the convention for Archie. Well, why?
Asked whether the Royal Family’s decision not to give Archie a title was to do with his race, Meghan told Oprah:
In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, so we have in tandem the conversation of 'he won’t be given security, he’s not gonna be given a title,' and also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.
What did Meghan and Harry say about Royal Family members?
Harry said he was hurt that no member of the Royal Family ever spoke out publicly against the racism Meghan was subjected to in the press. Meanwhile, he said he was ‘acutely aware’ of how afraid the Royal Family are of the ‘tabloids turning on them.’ He also expressed sympathy for Prince Charles and Prince William, describing them as being ‘trapped’ in the system.
Meghan had nothing but praise for the Queen, saying that she ‘has always been wonderful’ to her. She also described Kate Middleton as a ‘good person,’ but expressed disappointment Kate hadn’t corrected reports that Meghan had made her cry in the run-up to her wedding when ‘the reverse was true.’ Kate apparently apologised to Meghan with flowers and a note.
