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Meghan and Harry interview: Queen and Prince Philip not behind comments about colour of Archie's skin

New, unbroadcast excerpts from Oprah Winfrey's interview with Harry and Meghan are played out on US breakfast television.

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'Queen and Prince Philip not behind Archie remarks'
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The Queen and Prince Philip were not behind "concerns" about the colour of Archie's skin before he was born, says Oprah Winfrey.

The talk show host said Prince Harry had told her his grandmother and grandfather were not involved and Winfrey could share that if she had the "opportunity".

In new clips on US breakfast TV, he also claimed the Queen had listened to "really bad" advice and was suddenly too busy to meet him at Sandringham last year.

Harry added that the UK press was "inherently corrupt or racist or biased" and that racism was "a large part" behind him leaving the country.

Live: Latest reaction to bombshell Meghan and Harry interview

The two-hour interview - Oprah With Meghan And Harry - was broadcast on US television on Sunday night, with more than 17 million people tuning in to watch, and went further than many expected.

Speaking about her pregnancy with Archie, Meghan claimed the Royal Family did not want him to be a prince or offer him security.

Asked why by Winfrey, she said there were "concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born".

Winfrey asked if her son being "too brown" would be a problem, to which Meghan replied: "If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one".

Under rules set down by George V, Archie cannot be a prince because he is too far removed from the line of succession, but he will be entitled to become a HRH or prince when Prince Charles takes the throne.

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Meghan claims Archie's skin colour was discussed

New clips have now aired on the CBS This Morning show as the fallout continues - with all eyes on whether Buckingham Palace will issue a response.

Winfrey said Harry had not revealed to her who was behind the skin colour comments.

"He did not share the identity with me but he wanted to make sure that I knew - and if I had the opportunity to share it - that it was not his grandmother nor his grandfather that were part of those conversations," Winfrey said.

"He did not tell me who were a part of those conversations, as you can see I tried to get those answers on camera and off."

Meghan also said she would not reveal the source as it would be too "damaging" for that person.

In one new clip, Harry describes an awkward conversation with the Queen in which she told him she was no longer able to invite the couple to Sandringham as planned.

The Duke of Sussex told Winfrey it happened in January 2020, a few days before they went public with their announcement on stepping back as working royals.

He said he believed his grandmother's advisers had given her "really bad" advice that persuaded her to change her mind.

Harry said he had called the Queen, who told him she had "something in my diary that I didn't know that I had" - and that she was also busy the rest of that week.

Meghan also spoke about her estranged father Thomas Markle and half-sister Samantha in another new clip from the interview.

"There was such an obsession about anything in my world including finding out about my parents and I did everything to protect him," she told Winfrey.

She said her father had denied selling his story to the papers when she called him before their wedding.

"I look at Archie and I genuinely can't imagine him doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child. I can't imagine it so it's hard for me to reconcile that," said Meghan.

Meghan and Harry on Oprah: All the key quotes

Meghan and Harry on Oprah: All the key quotes

The Duchess of Sussex said that - in contrast - her mother has retained "silent dignity" for four years to protect her.

Meghan also dismissed her half-sister on her father's side, Samantha Markle, who wrote a 'tell-all' book on her famous family member.

She said the last time she saw her was nearly 20 years ago.

What did they say in last night's interview?

The duchess claimed one member of the royal household had had "several conversations" with Harry about their child's skin colour, and "what that would mean or look like".

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Meghan: 'I just didn't want to be alive anymore'

She also revealed she had suicidal thoughts, saying "I just didn't want to be alive any more", and denied reports she had made Kate cry ahead of her wedding, claiming "the reverse happened".

Prince Harry admitted to a rift with his father and said Prince Charles had stopped taking his calls for a while when the couple left for a new life in America.

The Duke of Sussex also claimed he had been "trapped" in the royal system - "like the rest of my family".

The couple also told Winfrey they were expecting a girl and spoke of their "fairytale" life in California.

What's been the reaction so far?

In the UK, late editions of the newspapers featured headlines such as "Meg: I Felt Suicidal", "Meghan Accuses Palace of Racism", and "Meghan's bombshell: Kate Made Me Cry!".

American media also led with the story, and Sky News US correspondent Greg Milam said people were "astonished" at what they heard.

He said there were "gasps" when the duchess made her comments about Archie's skin colour.

CNN's headline was "Bombshells in royal interview", Fox News referred to the revelations as "Spilling The Tea", while the New York Times reported on Meghan's suicidal feelings.

Social media users have so far been largely sympathetic towards the duke and duchess.

Sky's royal correspondent, Rhiannon Mills, said the content of the interview made it impossible for Buckingham Palace not to comment and stick to the usual rule of "never complain, never explain".

What have the couple's friends said?

Meghan has received support from the likes of her friend and tennis star Serena Williams, who was at her wedding, as well as US poet and activist Amanda Gorman.

Serena Williams tweeted that 'Meghan teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble'
Image: Williams said Meghan 'teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble'

Williams tweeted to say the duchess was her "selfless friend" who "teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble".

Gorman, who became well known after a powerful performance at Joe Biden's inauguration, said the royals had missed the "greatest opportunity for change".