According to a new book by Valentine Low, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, Kate Middleton had a part in the Royal response to Prince Harry and Meghan’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
She reportedly advocated for the inclusion of the phrase “some recollections may vary” in the official response.
The book claims that Kate played a significant role in pushing for the phrasing to be toughened up.
The Palace’s initial response to the interview’s allegations of concerns about baby Archie’s skin color was said to have a milder version of the “recollections” sentence. However, Kate and Prince William were apparently in agreement that the institution needed to make it clear that they did not accept much of what had been said. Kate insisted that the phrase remain in the statement, as she believed that history would judge it and that without such a phrase, everything the Sussexes had said would be taken as true.
Sources quoted in the book describe Kate as subtle in her approach, playing the long game with her eye on her future as Queen. It is also claimed that Prince William’s private secretary, Jean-Christophe Gray, was responsible for the phrase, although some attribute it to Sir Clive Alderton. The book reveals that Queen Elizabeth waited to watch the Oprah interview on ITV the next night before responding.
During the Oprah interview, Meghan claimed she was “silenced” by the royal institution and that she was denied help during a mental health crisis. The Royal Family released a statement expressing sadness over the challenges faced by Harry and Meghan, stating that the issues raised, particularly on race, would be taken seriously and addressed privately. The statement emphasized that Harry, Meghan, and Archie would always be cherished family members.
Oprah later confirmed that neither Queen Elizabeth nor Prince Philip were accused of making the comment about Archie’s skin color, as Prince Harry did not disclose the identities of those involved in the conversations.
