Harry and Meghan believe Queen failed to take 'accountability' after racism allegations, says royal insider

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly frustrated by the Queen's response to their Oprah interview

Harry and Meghan were unhappy with Queen's Oprah response
(Image credit: Paul Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were dissatisfied with the Queen's response to their bombshell interview with Oprah, a royal insider has claimed. 


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly remained on good terms with the Queen following their high-profile US emigration last year, but it looks like that might be all about to change. 

The latest edition of Finding Freedom, the 2020 bestselling book about Harry and Meghan's withdrawal from the Royal Family, digs deep into events of the past year—covering everything from the birth of their daughter Lilibet to the death of Prince Philip. It also discusses a topic that has yet to be addressed by the controversial couple—the Queen's response to their allegations of racism at Buckingham Palace

Meghan and Harry delivered shocking comments about Archie that made Oprah gasp in horror during their CBS interview last March, including the disturbing revelation that concerns had been raised by a senior Royal Family member about the unborn child's potential skin color. 

Harry and Meghan

Harry and Meghan made allegations of racism against an unnamed member of the Royal Family in their bombshell Oprah interview 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The remarks caused such a stir that Prince William quickly spoke out in defense of the royals, insisting that his relatives were "very much not a racist family." The Queen also released a brief statement, in which she acknowledged that the "issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning." 

However, Her Majesty also implied there were two sides to the story, adding, "While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately." 

royal family

(Image credit: Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

In the new epilogue of Finding Freedom, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand suggest that Harry and Meghan were unhappy with this particular line of the Queen's statement:

"The Queen’s ‘recollections may vary’ comment ‘did not go unnoticed’ by the couple, who a close source said were ‘not surprised’ that full ownership was not taken. ‘Months later and little accountability has been taken’, a pal of Meghan added. ‘How can you move forward with that?’” 

Scobie, who is the royal editor at Harper's Bazaar, said that he believes Harry is "quite willing to own his part in everything" and is now "waiting to see some of that from the other side." 

The updated version of the book is expected to hit shelves on 31 August. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.