Queen Elizabeth and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will skip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey, according to sources.
The couple are talking about their personal struggles as working royals.
Royal insiders - some calling the interview a "circus" - told the news media the queen is busy with Commonwealth Day commitments. The royal family will be stepping up engagements in the coming weeks, too.
By Monday, children across the U.K. will be going back to school, and the vaccine program will continue its rollout. The insiders said news about Winfrey's interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex won't be a big issue at Buckingham Palace.
However, other sources said royal aides would be watching the show and providing feedback to the queen. Staff held a crisis meeting ahead of the interview as talks swirled it could encourage the queen to revoke Harry and Markle's royal titles.
Prime Minister Johnson said that while he is interested in all sorts of news he won't be able to stay up late to watch the show.
The U.K. leader said he was concentrated on economic recovery during the coronavirus pandemic.
Late Sunday the queen appeared on U.K. television to honor the 54 nations in the Commonwealth. The 94-year-old monarch hailed the nations for their responses in the pandemic and called for unity.
She said Commonwealth countries maintained their closeness and the spirit of the community using virtual applications.
Prince Charles, Prince William and the other members of the family gave recorded messages for the Commonwealth. In the past 50 years, the Commonwealth Day service usually takes place at Westminster Abbey. This year's event was canceled owing to restrictions on gatherings.
Harry and Markle's final duties as working royals were at the Commonwealth Day service in 2020. A few days later, the world shut down because of the virus.
