Meghan Markle and Harry will become 'irrelevant' claims expert

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In their interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attacked the UK tabloids and claimed there was an unhealthy relationship between the Palace and the press. The couple criticised the Palace for not responding to claims made about them in the media, with Meghan insisting they were not “protecting” her from the onslaught. They also criticised the “symbiotic” relationship between the royals and the press, potentially referring to the royal rota, whereby media are given access to royal events and engagements.

Harry said: “There is this invisible, what’s termed or referred to as the ‘invisible contract’ behind closed doors between the institution and the tabloids, the UK tabloids.

“It’s a case of if you as a family member are willing to wine, dine and give full access to these reporters, then you will get better press.”

Meghan added: “I think there’s a reason that these tabloids have holiday parties at the Palace. They’re hosted by the Palace, the tabloids are.

“You know, there is a construct that’s at play here.”

However, royal correspondents have come out in droves to deny the existence of these so-called holiday parties and to express their bafflement at these comments.

Pod Save the Queen is hosted by Ann Gripper and features Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers.

Ms Gripper questioned whether the Royal Family should be more upfront and open about things ‒ officially confirming or denying claims, rather than having unnamed sources and insiders tell the story of what is going on inside Palace walls.

However, Mr Myers argued royals cannot start commenting on absolutely everything and this is how journalism works in all spheres, not just royal reporting.

He said: “We are all forgetting that this happens in sports journalism, this happens in political journalism, it happens in every facet of the media, celebrity.

“We’re working with agents ‒ football agents or celebrity agents ‒ there are always sources and this is what makes our job so interesting, but also why it’s dealt with, the majority of times, by professional people.

“We are dedicated to the craft of actually telling truthful stories and dealing with people who don’t peddle falsehoods.

“Now, the problem for the Palace is: why would they comment on every story?

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“Why would Downing Street comment on every story? It doesn’t work like that.”

The pair discussed whether they think Meghan and Harry’s interview will change anything about how the Palace runs its media operation.

Mr Myers argued he does not think it will, although internal processes may change, regarding their HR department and how complaints are dealt with internally.

He believes the Palace will continue to not comment on most issues ‒ following their mantra of “never complain, never explain” ‒ instead of hitting back at the Sussexes’ claims in a tit-for-tat “war of words”.

Meghan and Harry ‘have to decide’ what they want says expert

The royal editor said: “I don’t think there will be a wholesale change with how the media operation is operated by Buckingham Palace, I don’t think it will change.

“There will have to be internal changes and that will be part of an HR department being set up.

“I mean, people who were way before me in this game said there were huge, huge changes in this game after Diana came in and after her death as well.

“The whole machine changed around Palace communications and maybe that will have to be certainly adapted and maybe their internal processes will have to be adapted.

“But I think that we’re not going to see this tit for tat explosion of words within the public sphere, because I just don’t think it will benefit anyone.”

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