30 June 2023 , 21:52
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William and Kate were adamant not to take Harry and Meghan's racism claims in their Oprah interview lying down, a palace insider has claimed.
Prince William had urged senior royal aides to tell the world "this does not stand" as The Firm scrambled to sort damage control following the March 2021 interview.
It came after Prince Harry and Meghan famously told the American show host that an unnamed member of the Royal Family had asked the couple what their first child's skin colour would be when born.
The claims later prompted Buckingham Palace to release a statement claiming the issues, "particularly that of race", would be addressed privately, adding "recollections may vary".
But while senior aides insisted on a more watered-down approach, the then-Cambridges vowed to fight back in the strongest way they could.
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The family were conscious of 'riling up' Harry and Meghan further with their response (PA Archive/PA Images)Prince William urged aides to meticulously craft the right response, according to an extract from Valentine Low's new book, 'Courtiers'. An insider reportedly told staff: "It is really important that you guys come up with the right way of making sure that we are saying that this does not stand."
"The debate was, do you rise entirely above it and offer the olive branch of [Harry and Meghan being] ‘much loved members of the family’? Or is there some moment when you have to intervene and offer a view?" the insider added.
Officials meanwhile had initially objected to including the "recollections may vary" phrase over fears it would "rile Harry and Meghan", reports The Times.
But Princess Kate also stood her ground over keeping it in the official response.
Kate reportedly stood her ground over the palace response (Getty Images)The insider told the title the Princess was "far steelier" than her appearance, saying: “It was Kate who clearly made the point, ‘History will judge this statement and unless this phrase or a phrase like it is included, everything that they have said will be taken as true.’ ”
Among the claims of questions raised over what would be Prince Archie's skin colour, Meghan and Harry also told Oprah that reports of making Kate cry in a spat over flower girl dresses for their wedding had in fact been "the reverse".
The response from the Palace in full read: "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.
"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning..
"Whilst 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."
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