Meghan Markle says Buckingham Palace is peddling lies about her

Meghan Markle gave an interview to Oprah Winfrey in which she criticized the royal family.

CBS

Meghan Markle mentions that Buckingham Palace is "peddling lies" about her and Prince Harry, in an excerpt from the couple's much-anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired Wednesday night on CBS.

Asked what she imagines the Royal Palace thinks of her statements, Meghan Markle replies: I don't know how they could expect us to simply remain silent after all this time, if the Firm is playing an active role in peddling lies about us.

Prior to the release of this excerpt, the Royal Palace had announced on Wednesday that it would investigate harassment charges against Meghan Markle that were revealed by The Times newspaper.

A few days before this potentially damaging interview on CBS, scheduled to air on Sunday in the United States and Monday in Britain, the British daily assured that Meghan Markle would be the subject of a harassment complaint addressed to the palace by Jason Knauf, then the couple's communications secretary, in October 2018 when the former American actress was still living with the British royal family.

We are clearly very concerned about the accusations in the Times following statements made by former employees of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex," the palace said in a statement unusual for the British monarchy, which is unaccustomed to raising its differences in the public square.

The palace stresses that it does not and will not tolerate harassment in the workplace.

Meghan Markle reacted to the Times news with a spokesperson. He said the Duchess of Sussex is saddened by this latest attack on her person, particularly as someone who has herself been harassed and is deeply involved in supporting those who have suffered pain and trauma.

She is determined to continue her work to advocate for compassion around the world and will continue to strive to set an example of doing the right thing," he added.

The couple's lawyers told the Times that the newspaper was being used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a completely false story before the interview with Harry and Meghan was broadcast.

The stunt comes at a difficult time for Queen Elizabeth II, whose husband, Prince Philip, 99, has been hospitalized for more than two weeks for an infection.

The Queen's grandson and sixth in the order of succession to the British crown, Harry married Meghan, an American Métis actress, in a high-profile ceremony at Windsor Castle in 2018.

But in early 2020, Harry decided to leave his position in the monarchy, citing media pressure among other reasons. The couple, after his withdrawal, effective since April, settled near Los Angeles after a hook by Canada.

In a previous excerpt from the CBS interview aired last Sunday, Harry, who blamed the press in part for the tragic 1997 death of his mother, Princess Diana, said he feared history would repeat itself.

The couple has launched several lawsuits against British media. On Tuesday, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday, which had published a letter from Meghan to her father, was ordered to pay her $792,500.

On February 19, the palace announced that the couple would lose their last titles, including the Prince's military titles, to which they are very attached. Meghan Markle, a former actress, will lose her charitable patronage.

Wanting to be financially independent, Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, who are expecting their second child, signed juicy contracts with Netflix and Spotify.

Source: AFP