Queen Elizabeth II will begin questioning senior royals privately about damning claims about racism – as her 99-year-old husband, Prince Philip, spends his 23rd day in a hospital following heart surgery, according to reports.
The 94-year-old monarch has said that the alarming allegations made by grandson Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, during their Oprah Winfrey interview will be “privately covered by the family”.
Sources told The Sun that she will individually confront senior royals about the allegations – including Harry himself.
The main focus will be Harry’s claim that at least one family member expressed concern about ‘how dark’ his mixed-race children would be, which the Queen called particularly ‘concerning’.
Harry tried his best to tell Oprah that neither the Queen nor her husband, Philip, had made the racially charged comment.
But the monarch will interview all other senior royals, the Sun said, including Harry’s father, heir to the throne Prince Charles, who is reportedly “deeply” concerned about the skin color claim.
“It goes against everything the Prince of Wales believes in,” a source told the Evening Standard, using the formal title of Charles. “He believes that diversity is the strength of our society.”
Others likely to be interviewed include Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate, the Sun said.
However, some royal specialists believe that the Queen’s statement that “memories can vary” suggests that she already knows who made the inflammatory comment.
“Clearly she spoke to the person who allegedly made the comment about Archie and they gave her their version of the events,” royal author Phil Dampier told the Sun.
The drama comes as the family faces the constant stress of Philip’s prolonged hospitalization due to heart problems.
Philip – who would turn 100 in June – was admitted to London’s King Edward VII Hospital on February 16 as a “precautionary measure” after feeling unwell.
He was later transferred to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, where he had “successful” heart surgery earlier this month.