LONDON — Prince William denied Britain’s royal family are racist on Thursday in his first public comments since Prince Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“We’re very much not a racist family,” William said in response to questions from the media as he visited a school in east London with his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.
William added that he hadn’t spoken to his brother yet, “but I plan to.”
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Buckingham Palace has been rocked by a media frenzy since the explosive interview, which aired in the U.S. on Sunday and U.K. on Monday, and was watched by millions.
Harry and Meghan’s comments to Oprah unraveled issues from mental health to royal protocol but also race.
Meghan said Harry told her that royal insiders had expressed “concerns” about how dark the skin of their children might be. The couple declined to name the individual who made the alleged comments, but Winfrey later said that Harry had made clear it was neither Queen Elizabeth II, his grandmother, nor her husband, Prince Philip.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement late Tuesday addressing the interview and said the family were “saddened” to learn the extent of the challenges faced by the couple.
“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning,” the statement said. “While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”
Despite the queen’s plea Tuesday night for the couple’s allegations to be “addressed by the family privately,” her 61-word statement has not curbed the appetite of the British press and members of the public for more.
This is a breaking news story, please check back for updates.
