Prince Harry, 38, spoke in the ITV interview with Tom Bradby, 55, which aired on Sunday (8 January) and with whom he was asked for his book ‘Reserve’ (‘Spare’, to be released 10 January) advertised, including one of the most discussed moments of the interview that he and his wife Duchess Meghan (41) gave US talk icon Oprah Winfrey (68) in spring 2021. In the current interview, he now denied that he and Meghan had accused the royal family of racism at the time.
During the Oprah interview, Meghan claimed that there were “concerns and conversations about how dark Archie’s skin might be when he’s born.” Archie is Harry and Meghan’s first child together. He was born in London in May 2019.
After the Oprah appearance, Harry’s brother Prince William, 40, was asked directly by a reporter if he wanted to comment on the allegations, to which he replied, “We’re not a racist family.”
Bradby took up the issue and told Harry: ‘In the Oprah interview you accused members of your family of racism…’ The Duke of Sussex then countered: ‘No. The British press said that. Did Meghan ever mention ‘ that they are racists?” Bradby then summarized: “She said there were disturbing comments about Archie’s skin colour. Wouldn’t you call that fundamentally racist?”
Harry said no, explaining that there is a “difference between racism and unconscious bias…the two things are different”. He added: “When you, as an individual or as an institution, recognize or have been made aware that you have unconscious bias, there is an opportunity to learn and grow from it… Otherwise, unconscious bias becomes racism.”
Harry was also referring to a racist incident at the palace involving Lady Susan Hussey, a longtime lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022). She was accused of asking racially charged questions to Ngozi Fulani, the founder of the charity Sistah Space, while she was attending a reception at Buckingham Palace to fight violence against women. “What happened to Ngozi Fulani is a very good example of the climate within the institution,” Harry said.
He also stressed that he and Meghan “love” Lady Susan, who is said to have offered advice and help to the Duchess of Sussex when she first joined the royal family. “We think she’s great. I also know she never meant anything bad. But the reaction to the story from the British press and people on the internet has been awful, absolutely awful,” he said.
