Meghan Markle wrote to Charles AFTER her Oprah interview naming royal who made ‘skin colour’ comment about Archie and accusing monarchy of ‘unconscious bias’ – and isn’t attending the Coronation because she was unhappy with the response, sources say
• The Duchess’ letter was reportedly sent in reply to one from King Charles himself
Meghan Markle wrote to King Charles about unconscious bias in the Royal family after her bombshell Oprah interview, it was claimed last night.
The Duchess of Sussex’s letter reportedly named the individual accused of speculating about her unborn son Archie’s skin colour – but went on to claim the person wasn’t racist.
It is understood that it was sent in reply to one from the King – only senior member of the family to make contact with the Duchess after Meghan and Harry were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
Meghan said the comment over Archie’s skin was not made with malice.
But a source told the Daily Telegraph that the Duchess will not attend the Coronation on May 6 because she received a unsatisfactory response from the King.
Buckingham Palace is also aware of the Sussexes’ frustration that initial correspondence about the Coronation made no reference to their children.
Harry will instead attend the celebration on May 6 alone, while Meghan looks after Prince Archie on his fourth birthday and Princess Lilibet in California.
A royal insider suggested that while the exchange was warm in tone, it had not eased the tension between the two sides.
Relations continued to sour after the Sussexes stared in a six-part Netflix docu-series and the publication of the Harry’s revealing memoir, Spare.
Charles, who at the time was Prince of Wales, is said to be disappointed that Meghan and Harry felt the need to make such damaging allegations public.
He recently gave backing to a research project into the monarch’s historical links to the transatlantic slave trade, having previously expressed ‘personal sorrow’.
MailOnline has contacted the Sussexes for comment.
Prince Harry has touched on unconscious bias in the past. In January this year, he spoke to Tom Bradby on ITV to promote his memoir.
The presenter said ‘in the Oprah interview you accused members of your family of racism’, Harry responded by saying ‘no I didn’t’, adding ‘the British press said that’.
After Bradby said the duchess claimed troubling comments were made about Archie’s skin colour, Harry said: ‘There was – there was concern about his skin colour.’
Asked if he would describe that as racist, the duke said: ‘I wouldn’t, not having lived within that family.’
• Coronation correspondence understood to have not referred to Archie or Lilibet