Meghan Markle and Harry: Expert on unseen Oprah footage

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Oprah has received widespread praise for her handling of Meghan and Harry’s intimate sit-down conversation, which ITV aired earlier this month in the UK. The conversation was the couple’s first interview since their explosive exit from the royal frontline, and included an array of jaw-dropping accusations towards the Palace. The Sussexes alleged that the Firm had handled the issues of both race and mental health poorly while they were on the royal frontline, while Meghan even claimed the Palace had been “perpetuating falsehoods” about the two of them to the public.

But, reports suggest Oprah’s team did not then go to the Palace for a response.

According to People Magazine, a spokesperson for Harpo, Oprah’s production company, said: “The interview was intended to be a conversation with the couple.

“The Palace was not contacted to participate in or respond to the interview.”

Buckingham Palace refused to comment when approached by Express.co.uk.

Royal biographer Angela Levin tweeted in response to this claim, pointing out that, if true, this was a significant flaw in the programme.

She claimed that “even conversations involve one party asking the other” key questions, and that Oprah missed queries such as “what were the good points” of being a royal?

She added: “Very poor excuse from Oprah for not giving the people Harry and Meghan betrayed a voice.

“Something M [Meghan] is keen on for herself.”

Meghan has long been an advocate of giving everyone a platform to speak, and even told Oprah that was one of the hardest parts of being a member of the Royal Family.

She said: “I’ve always been outspoken, especially about women’s rights. I mean, that’s the sad irony of the last four years… I’ve advocated for so long for women to use their voice, and then I was silent.”

The Sussexes have also made it their new post-royal mission to be “able to give a voice to a lot of people that are under-represented and aren’t really heard” through their new vehicle Archewell.

In the immediate aftermath of the interview, royal fans on both sides of the Atlantic were calling for the Palace to release a public statement and address the serious allegations from the couple.

The brief statement, which was published two days after the interview was first broadcast in the US, admitted that the “whole family is saddened” to hear of the couple’s struggles.

It noted that “the issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning”, while noting “some recollections may vary”.

The Palace then concluded that these matters “will be addressed by the family privately”.

According to the Daily Mail’s Rebecca English, Buckingham Palace acknowledged that the couple did not have to inform them they were taking part in the interview beforehand.

A spokesperson said: “The Duke and Duchess are no longer working members of the Royal Family and therefore any decisions they take with regard to media commitments are matters for them.

“As non-working MRF [members of the Royal Family] they are under no obligation to inform the Royal Household of such plans.”

Other reports alleged that Palace aides only discovered the interview was going ahead after CBS revealed it on Twitter.

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Oprah’s decision not to go to the Palace for response is not the only area of the tell-all which has raised eyebrows.

Famous British broadcaster, Andrew Neil, told the BBC’s Amol Rajan that Oprah has secured a “dynamite” interview which was definitely a “global news story” particularly because of the issue of race.

But, he then noted: “Oprah Winfrey never pushed them to determine whether it was true or not, to push them on the issues and do a proper job as an interviewer as opposed to saying, ‘Here’s a softball, down the leg side, whack it for six’.”

Mr Neil added that the interview was “hugely damaging” for the Royal Family, and that it is a “crisis time” for the Firm.

Robin Aitken of The Telegraph also claimed: “Oprah Winfrey is no even-handed inquisitor.

“She has built a reputation and media empire by monetising flattery.”

He added that there was “no challenge, no implied criticism, no edge”.

Royal family 'horrified' by Oprah interview says insider

But, it must be noted that some broadcasters praised her ability to handle such delicate issues.

Writing for the BBC, Caryn James claimed “in purely journalistic terms, Oprah delivered a masterpiece of an interview”, while US news website Vox declared her the “interviewer in chief” after the tell-all aired.

The Washington Post even praised her as the “greatest celebrity interviewer of all time”, while Oprah’s friend and fellow journalist Gayle King described the sit-down conversation as “perfection”.

Oprah has often been described as a friend of Meghan and Harry’s.

She was invited to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding back in 2018, although they reportedly had only met once at that point.

The US star then agreed to produce a series on mental health with Harry, and promoted Meghan’s new investment, Clevr Blends, on social media earlier this year.

She also lives just down the road from the Sussexes, in the secluded community of Montecito, California.

The bombshell interview was first broadcast on the US network CBS, but aired in the UK on ITV the following day.

The 90-minute sit-down, ‘Oprah with Meghan and Harry’ is available to watch on the ITV hub.

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