Harry spoke to brother Prince William, but talks were 'not productive'
Harry also had a conversation with his father, Prince Charles.
By Reuters | Updated:
Reuters
Last week, Prince William said he had not yet spoken to his brother, Harry, but intended to do so.
LONDON: Britain's Prince Harry has spoken to his elder brother William for the first time since he and his wife Meghan's Oprah Winfrey interview but the talks were "not productive", a friend of the couple said on Tuesday.
During the interview aired by U.S. television network CBS on March 7, Meghan said one unnamed member of the royal family had asked how dark their son Archie's skin might be when he was born, while Harry said his father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, had let him down and that he had felt trapped.
At an engagement last Thursday, Prince William said he had not yet spoken to his brother but intended to do so, telling reporters: "We're very much not a racist family."
Gayle King, the co-host of CBS This Morning, said she had spoken to Harry and Meghan at the weekend and that a conversation between the brothers had taken place.
"It's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too, and the word I was given was that those conversations were not productive, but they are glad that they have at least started a conversation," she said.
William's office Kensington Palace had no comment on King's remarks.
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Harry and Meghan's interview plunged the British monarchy into its biggest crisis since the death of William and Harry's mother Princess Diana in 1997.
Queen Elizabeth has said the royals were saddened by the challenging experiences of her grandson Harry and his wife. 'HEARTBREAKING' It came after Buckingham Palace said it was investigating allegations of bullying made against Meghan by aides before she and Harry gave up their royal roles to move to California last year.
"I think what is still upsetting to them is that the palace keeps saying they want to work it out privately yet they've all these false stories coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan," King said.
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"I think it's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the royal family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant."
Queen Elizabeth, 94, has said the royals were saddened by the challenging experiences of her grandson Harry and his wife.
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"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately," Buckingham Palace said in a March 9 statement.
Earlier, former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama said Meghan's recollections about a remark made about the possible colour of her son's skin were heartbreaking and she hoped Meghan's experiences would be a lesson for the world.
Obama told NBC News: "I feel like that was heartbreaking to hear, that she felt like she was in her own family - her own family thought differently of her."
"As I said before, race isn't a new construct in this world for people of colour, and so it wasn't a complete surprise to hear her feelings and to have them articulated," she said.
"I think the thing that I hope for, and the thing I think about, is that this, first and foremost, is a family. I pray for forgiveness and healing for them so that they can use this as a teachable moment for us all."
The British Royal Family Isn't Alone. A Look At Other Regal Controversies Around The World
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After keeping a stiff upper lip over Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey, Buckingham Palace finally broke its silence, saying it was saddened and concerned. Royal watchers say the foundations of the House of Windsor have been shaken, with comparisons being made with Lady Diana’s famous interview with Martin Bashir on BBC, where she said there were three people in her marriage, and even Edward VIII’s abdication to marry an American divorcee.
The British royals could, perhaps, take some comfort in the fact that this is just one of many scandals, controversies and shocking circumstances royal families around the world have found themselves in.
Take a look:
After keeping a stiff upper lip over Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey, Buckingham Palace finally broke its silence, saying it was saddened and c..
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Thailand
In July 2019, Thailand’s ruler, Maha Vajiralongkorn, created a stir when he made Sineenat, a royal guard and former nurse, his “royal noble consort”. It was the first time the title, akin to that of an official mistress, was being used in close to a century. Three months later, the palace announced that Sineenat was stripped of all ranks because she had tried to supplant the queen, the king’s fourth wife. Sineenat then vanished from the public eye only to be reinstated in mid-2020, soon after which hundreds of explicit photos of her were leaked, in what was interpreted as a power struggle in the Thai palace. Controversial stories around the Thai ruler, once photographed in Munich in a crop top and tattoo sleeve, are legion but Thailand’s citizens can’t discuss any of this openly.
The reason? A law which punishes any public criticism of its royals with imprisonment.
Thailand In July 2019, Thailand’s ruler, Maha Vajiralongkorn, created a stir when he made Sineenat, a royal guard and former nurse, his “royal noble consort”. It was the first time the title, akin to..
Read More
Brunei
Tales of Brunei’s prince Jefri Bolkiah are numerous — including salacious stories of his “harem”. He has, for instance, been sued by a former US model over charges that he used her as a “sex slave”. He was also accused by his brother of embezzling $15 billion from the Brunei Investment Agency which resulted in a protracted legal battle that played out in the UK courts. A settlement was finally reached according to which he promised to turn over assets that included 600 properties, over 2,000 cars, over 100 paintings and 9 aircraft.
BruneiTales of Brunei’s prince Jefri Bolkiah are numerous — including salacious stories of his “harem”. He has, for instance, been sued by a former US model over charges that he used her as a “sex sl..
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Sweden
Till 2010, the Swedish royal family had enjoyed a flawless reputation for respectability. But that was blown apart by a tell-all book, The Reluctant Monarch, which portrayed the king, Carl XVI Gustav, as a philanderer who took part in numerous sex parties and frequented strip clubs. The Scandinavian nation erupted in uproar over the book, which also alleged that Sweden’s secret police, Sapo, was involved in concealing the monarch’s unsavoury activities.
SwedenTill 2010, the Swedish royal family had enjoyed a flawless reputation for respectability. But that was blown apart by a tell-all book, The Reluctant Monarch, which portrayed the king, Carl XVI ..
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Saudi Arabia
In November 2017, close to 400 of the most wealthy and powerful people in Saudi Arabia were rounded up and confi ned in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the most contentious purge of its kind in the kingdom. It was carried out at the behest of the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who alleged that they were guilty of corruption. Saudi offi cials said over $100 billion was recovered from them and returned to the treasury before they were released.
Saudi Arabia In November 2017, close to 400 of the most wealthy and powerful people in Saudi Arabia were rounded up and confi ned in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the most contentious purge of its kind ..
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Dubai
In 2018, Princess Latifa, daughter of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, tried to flee the country. She was allegedly caught off the coast of Goa and brought back. She had since sent secret video messages where she said she was being held hostage. For a while, the secret messages stopped, sparking concern about her well-being, though the Dubai government officially said she was safe. Two decades ago, her sister, Princess Shamsa, had unsuccessfully tried to escape while in the UK in 2000. She has not been seen in public since.
Dubai In 2018, Princess Latifa, daughter of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, tried to flee the country. She was allegedly caught off the coast of Goa and brought back. She had since..
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Denmark
The Danish are very fond of their royal family. Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Mary are called the “bicycling royals” for cycling to pick up their kids, and some 70% Danes support the monarchy. So the country was taken aback when, in an interview to a journalist, Princess Marie, wife of Frederik’s younger brother, indicated that she and her husband had more or less been exiled to France by the royal family. Historians viewed this as the outcome of an internal power struggle which the younger sibling lost.
Denmark The Danish are very fond of their royal family. Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Mary are called the “bicycling royals” for cycling to pick up their kids, and some 70% Danes support the mo..
Read More
Nepal
On June 1, 2001, the world was horrifi ed by a massacre in the Himalayan kingdom. The crown prince, Dipendra, went on a murderous rampage, killing nine members of the royal family, including his parents, the king and the queen, before using his gun to kill himself. The mass shooting of the royal family at the Narayanhity Palace and the uproar it caused, laid the ground for the eventual abolition of monarchy in Nepal.
Nepal On June 1, 2001, the world was horrifi ed by a massacre in the Himalayan kingdom. The crown prince, Dipendra, went on a murderous rampage, killing nine members of the royal family, including hi..
Read More
Spain
In March 2020, in an unprecedented move, Spain’s king, Felipe, gave up his personal inheritance and stripped his father and former king, Juan Carlos, of his annual stipend, following allegations that the son would benefit from an offshore fund, set up by the father, with links to Saudi Arabia. A supreme court probe was also launched into his role in a multi-billion dollar deal for a high-speed rail line in Saudi Arabia won by a Spanish company. Carlos announced in August 2020 that he would be going into exile abroad to save his son, the current king, further embarrassment.
(Text Sources: Vanity Fair, BBC, CNN, The Independent)
Spain In March 2020, in an unprecedented move, Spain’s king, Felipe, gave up his personal inheritance and stripped his father and former king, Juan Carlos, of his annual stipend, following allegation..
