New Delhi: Real-time British Royal family drama seems to be filling in the gap before the next season of the hit Netflix series The Crown is available to stream.
Metaphorical swords have been drawn at the Buckingham Palace and by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, days before a highly-anticipated interview of the couple with Oprah Winfrey will air on the US television channel CBS.
Earlier this week, an exclusive article in The Times on 2 March alleged that Meghan Markle bullied her staff. Based on an anonymous source from Buckingham Palace, the article cited an allegation dating back to a complaint from October 2018, which was allegedly buried at Harry’s request. On 3 March, Buckingham Palace said it was going to investigate these allegations.
The Times article came a day after a teaser of the Oprah interview was released during the Golden Globes event. A second teaser was released featuring a pregnant Meghan Markle saying, “I don’t know how after so much time, they (the Royal family) could expect us to stay silent when there’s an active role that ‘The Firm’ is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.”
‘The Firm’ is slang for Royal Family when referring to its less-appreciative qualities.
That all this is happening when Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, 99-year-old Prince Philip is hospitalised has also been raising questions on the timing.
Also read: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are likely to suffer more than the Royals by opting out
A rocky royal history
Prince Harry, who is sixth in line to the crown, and Meghan Markle have had a tumultuous royal career since their marriage in May 2018, with tensions with Buckingham Palace emerging almost immediately.
Meghan, who is biracial, has been the subject of racist press coverage in the UK. In 2016, when the couple were still dating, Harry had even called out the press’ racism.
In January 2020, the couple said they were stepping down from their roles as ‘senior royals’ in an effort to become financially independent. The royal couple later moved to US, a move they maintained was due to British tabloids’ constant racist targeting of Meghan. Parallels have often been drawn to how Harry’s mother, Lady Diana died — in an accident caused by paparazzi chasing her.
In February this year, Harry and Meghan confirmed that they were not returning to their royal duties.
Adding to the controversy over the strained family relations were also reports of tensions with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — Prince William and Kate Middleton. William, Harry’s older brother, is third in line to the crown.
Also read: ‘Invasive beyond reason’: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle say they won’t deal with 4 UK tabloids
The interview
The interview with Oprah Winfrey is the first they have given since stepping down from their royal duties, and has caused anxiety within Buckingham Palace.
The interview, set to air Sunday, is already being compared to Diana’s infamous interview with Martin Basheer in 1995 which stirred a controversy. Diana had opened up about her troubled marriage to the Prince of Wales, Charles. A year later, the couple had divorced.
In a teaser for the upcoming interview, Harry says: “My biggest concern is history repeating itself,” which many have speculated is an allusion to the death of his mother.
A teaser for the upcoming interview was released during the virtual Golden Globes event that was hosted on 1 March. It featured Prince Harry speaking, with Oprah sensationally claiming, “You’ve made some shocking revelations today.”
In another teaser, Harry says, “I feel lucky to be sitting next to my wife talking to you, because I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like for her (Diana) going through this process all by herself.”
Also read: Harry and Meghan may work better as a royal family spinoff