Harry's Oprah comments in full as he denies accusing royal family of racism

09 January 2023 , 09:09

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Harry's Oprah comments in full as he denies accusing royal family of racism

Prince Harry's latest TV interview has caused for stir as he made revelations about his life as a royal.

In the sit-down chat with his longtime friend and journalist Tom Bradby, Harry also sensationally claimed he did not call the royal family racist in his interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, appeared in a bombshell interview with Oprah, 68, in March 2021 – which sent shockwaves across the world with their revelations that a member of the royal family had "concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born" - referring to their son Archie.

The royals were then forced to deny accusations of racism following the airing of the interview with the now late-Queen sharing a statement following the claims.

Prince Harry has insisted he did not accuse the royal family of racism (CBS)

Queen Elizabeth said in a statement issued through Buckingham Palace: "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

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"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members."

Oprah also later spoke out to insist the Queen and her late husband Prince Philip were not behind the alleged comment.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview of with Oprah Winfrey (CBS)

She claimed Harry wouldn't share the identity of the person who made the comment but stressed: "It was not his grandmother or grandfather who were part of those conversations".

Now, in a 90 minute interview with ITV News at 10 anchor Tom, 55, Harry has said the royals are not guilty of racism but "unconscious bias".

In the interview journalist Bradby said to Harry: "In the Oprah interview you accused members of your family of racism", the Duke snapped back: saying "no I didn't", adding "the British press said that".

In a further snipe at his family, Harry denied he'd "describe that as essentially racist", retorting: "I wouldn’t, not having lived within that family."

King Charles III at his wedding to Camilla, with their families (L-R back row) Prince Harry, Prince William, Tom and Laura Parker Bowles (L-R front row) Duke of Edinburgh, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Camilla's father Major Bruce Shand, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle (Getty Images)

He added: "The difference between racism and unconscious bias, the two things are different.

"But once it's been acknowledged, or pointed out to you as an individual, or as an institution, that you have unconscious bias, you therefore have an opportunity to learn and grow from that in order so that you are part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

"Otherwise unconscious bias then moves into the category of racism."

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Harry once again refused to name the individual who made the comments.

But, what exactly did the Duke and Duchess of Sussex say in their Oprah Winfrey interview?

Prince Harry said he was 'a bit shocked' by the conversation (Harpo Productions/ITV)

Meghan was the first to discuss the alleged incident as she told Oprah: "When I was pregnant, all around the same time – so we have in tandem the conversation of he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born."

Harry later joined the interview and when asked about the incident, said: "That conversation I’m never going to share, but at the time . . . at the time, it was awkward. I was a bit shocked."

When pressed by Oprah, he said the question was raised: "Yeah, what will the kids look like?"

He added: "But that was right at the beginning, when she wasn’t going to get security, when members of my family were suggesting that she carries on acting, because there was not enough money to pay for her, and all this sort of stuff. Like, there was some real obvious signs before we even got married that this was going to be really hard."

Oprah asked: "So, in conclusion, if you’d had the support, you’d still be there?"

Harry answered: "Without question."

Amy Denman