Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should have had the ‘common courtesy’ to tell the Queen about their upcoming ‘nuclear’ TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, a royal expert claims.
The pair reportedly did not let Her Majesty know in advance that they intended to participate in the 90-minute special, in which they will discuss why they dramatically stepped down as senior royals last year.
The royal editor Russell Myers, who appeared in Lorraine today, claimed that while the couple is under no obligation to notify the company of their plans, it would have been the right thing to do.
“ If you’re going to detonate an atomic bomb like this and do a big interview that will no doubt draw attention to global networks, it would be decent to tell the queen, tell your grandma you’re going to do it, ” he said.
He predicted the royal family will be ‘horrified’ with their plans to garner global media attention, calling the choice a ‘funny change of tact’ for a couple who ‘complained about privacy and intensive media scrutiny’.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not tell Her Majesty about their all-telling interview. Pictured Meghan, Harry and the Queen at an awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 26, 2018
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will likely discuss why they dramatically stepped down as senior royals during the 90-minute special. Pictured, Oprah Winfrey is pictured at Harry and Meghan’s wedding at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018
“We know they went alone and mapped out this path for themselves, the fact is that they are now separated from the royal family,” Myers said.
“Palace assistants said look, they didn’t have to tell us if they didn’t want to, but you’d think there’s common courtesy.”
Sources close to the Sussexes told the London Evening Standard yesterday that the couple still had a good relationship with the Queen, the Duke’s grandmother.
Royal editor Russell Myers (pictured) appeared on Lorraine today claiming it would have been Her Majesty’s ‘decent thing to do’ to inform Her Majesty about their interview plans
He told host Ranvir Singh that the choice was a “funny change of tact” for a couple who “complained about privacy and intensive media coverage.”
Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey, pictured together on CBS in April 2019, are best friends. Gayle told CBS This Morning yesterday, ‘I’ve been told nothing is off limits. She can ask anything she wants’
A royal source said that since the couple were no longer at work, any decisions being made regarding “ media obligations ” are business for them.
The source added that the Sussexes were “under no obligation” to notify the Royal Household of the interview, which was announced by CBS in a press release.
Oprah’s best friend Gayle King has said the presenter has been given complete freedom over the topics she discusses with the couple – which Myers predicts will have “disastrous consequences” for the Firm.
“History is on display,” Myers said, “when royals do these big tell-all interviews they have disastrous consequences. Look at Prince Andrew recently, further back in the 90s with Diana and Charles, we’re still talking about it now. ‘
A photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was released on Sunday when a spokesperson for the couple announced: ‘We can confirm Archie is going to be a big brother’
He added: “It has been reported this week that they only met Oprah once before their wedding, so the fact that she is a trusted friend is on shaky ground, I think.”
CBS has described the interview as an ‘intimate conversation’ including ‘an extensive interview’ with Meghan, about ‘everything from entering as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work to how she handles life under great public pressure’.
Myers predicted that the news of the ‘explosive’ interview would have been ‘horrifying’ to the Royal Family, adding that the chat is a ‘funny change of tact’ for a couple who have highlighted their desire for privacy.
He shared: “It is absolutely horrifying news, I would say, to the Royal Family. The fact that Gail King Oprah’s big interview is training so strongly saying they really wanted it, and it will be absolutely explosive indeed.
“Just the fact that Oprah has been given carte blanche to ask for something will make the royal family very, very nervous.”
Myers added, “It’s a funny change of tact when you complain about privacy and intense media coverage, to sign up with potentially the chat show queen of the world, who is being streamed to millions upon millions of people.”
It was recently revealed by The Daily Mail that Harry and Meghan will lose all of their remaining royal patronages after the Queen asked the couple to give up their ties to organizations passed down through the Royal Family.
Harry, 36, would be stripped of his three remaining military honorific titles and possibly also patronage at the Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League and the London Marathon.
Meghan, 38, should step down as a patron of the National Theater unless she can negotiate a different position with them.
When she landed the role in 2019, it was seen as a grand gesture of support and affection as the Queen had been a patron of the London Institute for 45 years.
Speaking of the decision, Myers said, “I think it would always come, and between the lines, the Queen said,” You can’t have one foot in and one foot out. ”
Harry will be stripped of his military titles, the honorific titles he loves so much, and with Meghan she became the patron of the National Theater that the Queen held for over 45 years.
“There will be a lot of people within those associations who will be sorry to see them leave, because they really trust that association with the royal family.”