The upcoming Oprah Winfrey interview of Meghan Markle will tackle her father, Thomas Markle, and her infamous sister, Samantha Markle, who has been critical of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since they revealed their relationship.
Sources revealed that Winfrey asked for footage of Samantha from This Morning, as part of her preparations for Meghan's interview. This Morning is a popular U.K. chat show where Samantha has had several guest stints.
The source added that Winfrey's producers have specifically requested videos of Samantha's interview in January 2020, where she tore down Meghan for the way she treated their father, Thomas. He was part of the lawsuit Meghan filed against the Daily Mail, which published the private letters she wrote to her dad.
While it's still unclear if Winfrey will actually use the footage, the sources also said that Meghan told the popular TV host that she can ask anything she wants. Another insider told E! that Meghan and Harry, who will be briefly featured in the interview, would want to "shine the light" on the public pressure they've had to go through under the royal spotlight.
Meghan and Harry are going to tell Winfrey how relieved they are to be out of royal scrutiny, which has been taking a toll on their mental well-being. The pair will also discuss the alleged "tension" with Harry's family.
However, some royal observers claim that the interview could likely be edited out and "toned own" light of Prince Philip's hospitalization. Despite what has been reported, insiders in Harry and Meghan's camp said they still hold a lot of love and respect for their grandparents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
This interview, however, has been highly-anticipated since Meghan and Harry have never discussed the intimate details of their new life after leaving the royal fold. Winfrey was said to have been courting the Sussex pair for this exclusive tell-all for a while.
A bidding war has ensued among broadcasters in the U.K. to get this latest scoop. According to reports, ITV will likely win the rights to air the special instead of BBC or Sky. While Harry and Meghan hoped their interview would be carried over to BBC, the broadcaster is apparently hesitant to spend taxpayers' money on the show. In the U.S., Meghan and Harry's interview with Winfrey will air on CBS on March 7.
Before the 90-minute special's broadcast, however, Queen Elizabeth, as well as the senior members of the royal family, will be appearing on TV in the U.K. for the Commonwealth Day celebrations.
