Meghan and Harry reveal what life was like as working royals in Oprah Winfrey interview - here’s what they said

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed what life was really like for them as working royals, in a tell-all interview aired in the US with talk show host Oprah Winfrey (Photo: Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images)The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed what life was really like for them as working royals, in a tell-all interview aired in the US with talk show host Oprah Winfrey (Photo: Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed what life was really like for them as working royals, in a tell-all interview aired in the US with talk show host Oprah Winfrey (Photo: Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images)

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed what life was really like for them as working royals, in a tell-all interview aired in the US with talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

In an two-hour interview aired on CBS in the US on Sunday night (7 March) Meghan Markle and Prince Harry talked about a variety of topics, including mental health, racism and their relationship with the rest of the family.

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The couple officially stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and now reside in California. Buckingham Palace confirmed last month that they will not return as working members of the Royal Family and the couple have been stripped of their patronages.

‘Didn't want to be alive anymore’

Megan spoke alone with Winfrey for the first half of the interview, with Harry joining them for the second half.

During the first part of the interview, Meghan told Winfrey that at the height of the crisis with the monarchy, she had thought about taking her own life.

She said that she found life within the Royal Family so difficult that at times she "didn't want to be alive anymore".

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The duchess told Winfrey that limits were placed on what she could do, causing her to feel extreme loneliness, saying that at one point she thought she "could not feel lonelier".

When asked by Winfrey if she had had suicidal thoughts, Meghan said: "Yes. This was very, very clear. Very clear and very scary. I didn't know who to turn to in that."

Meghan also told Winfrey that she didn’t feel protected by the Royal Family, and that the situation “started to really worsen” after she married Harry in May 2018.

She also shed some light on her relationship with the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, and addressed tabloid stories which claimed Megan had made her cry.

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Megan told Winfrey: "I came to understand that not only was I not being protected but that they were willing to lie to protect other members of the family.

"But they weren't willing to tell the truth to protect me and my husband."

Megan was referencing the rumours that she had made the Duchess of Cambridge cry during a disagreement about flower girl dresses, but said that the "reverse" was true.

Meghan said Kate had "really hurt my feelings" a few days before the wedding, but that she had apologised and is "a good person". She said that Kate brought her flowers and a note in order to make amends.

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William and Kate with Meghan and Harry on Christmas Day 2018 (Photo: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)William and Kate with Meghan and Harry on Christmas Day 2018 (Photo: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
William and Kate with Meghan and Harry on Christmas Day 2018 (Photo: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

‘How dark his skin might be when he was born’

In another part of the interview, Meghan also revealed that there were “several conversations” about her son Archie’s skin tone.

Meghan told Winfrey that there were conversations within the family, which were relayed back to her by Harry, "about how dark his skin might be when he was born".

Winfrey asked if her son being "too brown" would be a problem, to which Meghan said: "If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one".

However, the couple both refused to say who said that, with Meghan saying "I think that would be very damaging to them” and Harry adding: "That conversation, I am never going to share."

"At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked," he said.

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‘There's a lot of hurt that's happened’

When Prince Harry joined his wife and Winfrey, he discussed his relationship with the rest of the family.

Although he said his relationship with his grandmother, the Queen, was “really good”, with the two of them speaking often, he revealed that his father, Prince Charles, stopped taking his calls when he announced he wanted to step back.

Harry said he feels "really let down" by his father and that although he will always love him, "there's a lot of hurt that's happened".

In regards to his brother, Prince William, Harry said they were on "different paths".

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Prince Harry also revealed that his family had cut him off financially, which is why the couple sought deals with both Netflix and Spotify.

The couple also revealed that they were married in a simple ceremony three days before their grand wedding in 2018, and that their second child, which is due in the summer, is a girl.

The interview will air in the UK on ITV at 9pm tonight.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call the Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email [email protected] in the UK.

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