Queen Elizabeth is refusing to sign off on a statement prepared by Buckingham Palace in response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey.
According to sources Buckingham Palace had a ready response that was aimed at easing tensions brought on by the revelations of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex about their time as working royals. The prepared statement highlighted the royal family's love and concern for Harry and Markle.
But Her Majesty didn't approve the statement. She is said to be "taking her time" to consider the allegations made in the interview. Harry and Markle told Winfrey they didn't receive the support they expected from the royal family.
Markle said she was almost suicidal over her life at the palace because she was prevented from speaking publicly. She said she received no support when she opened up about her mental health struggles.
Markle also claimed her race was the reason the couple's son, Archie, was denied a royal title. She said Archie's skin color was discussed among the royal family and Harry - but not with her.
Winfrey released a statement after the interview saying the couple didn't say it was the queen or Prince Philip who raised the issue of Archie's race. Harry said in the interview he has great respect for his grandmother. The duke said that he speaks often with the queen and Philip - but he admitted there was a gap between him and his father Prince Charles. This was most pronounced after Harry quit public life.
Markle told Winfrey she called the queen "the moment" she was informed of Philip's recent hospitalization. She said she didn't wait for Harry to wake up and got in touch with the queen right away because "that's what we do."
There were calls for Winfrey to postpone the interview because of Philip's health.
However, representatives of the couple said the palace had been using Philip's health to control and prevent Harry and Markle from speaking.
