Britain: "The British royal family is not racist" says Prince William

AFP

Prince William, reacted to the interview with his brother Harry and his partner Meghan Markle, during which the royal family was accused of racism.

Prince William on Thursday defended the British royal family against the accusations of racism made by his brother Harry and his wife Meghan on American television, which have plunged the monarchy into a deep crisis. "We are not a racist family at all," said the Duke of Cambridge, second in line to the throne, during a visit to an east London school. He also said he had not spoken to his brother since the explosive interview aired on Sunday, but that he planned to do so.

Interviewed by star Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan explained their estrangement from the royal family and their exile in California. The 39-year-old ex-actress and her 36-year-old husband, sixth in line to the throne, denounced untenable media pressure, racism and the lack of support from the royal family as reasons for their withdrawal from the monarchy.

Queen says she takes accusations of racism "very seriously"

Harry and Meghan reported conversations from an unnamed member of the royal family about the skin color their son Archie, now 22 months old, would have before he was born. The accusations led to speculation about who made the statements and reignited a heated debate in the U.K., fueled by the Black Lives Matter protests last year.

Queen Elizabeth II responded Tuesday night by saying she was "saddened to learn how difficult the last few years have been" for the couple, via a statement from Buckingham Palace. The queen said she takes "very seriously" the accusations of racism made by Meghan, an American of mixed race, and Harry. But she pledged to deal with them "in private" and stressed that "memories may vary", seeming to show that she does not take these statements at face value.

Source: AFP