Meghan Markle Reveals Royal Family Member's Name in Letter to King Charles III Over Archie's Skin Color
In a letter written to King Charles III in 2021, Meghan Markle disclosed the name of the senior royal who allegedly speculated about her son Archie's skin color, according to a Telegraph report published on Friday. This revelation comes just days after the announcement that Markle would not be attending Charles' May 6 coronation.
A source confirmed to Page Six that there was indeed correspondence between the Duchess of Sussex and the king. The source emphasized, however, that the letters were written two years ago and have no bearing on Markle's decision to skip the coronation.
This report may cause embarrassment for the royal family as Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla prepare for their coronation in front of a worldwide audience.
The letters were written after Meghan's explosive March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which she claimed that a royal family member had made comments about the color of her unborn son's skin. Page Six reports that the letters specifically name a senior royal who allegedly made the remark. At the time, insiders clarified that it was neither Queen Elizabeth II nor Prince Philip.
In Christopher Andersen's book "Brothers And Wives: Inside The Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan," Charles was named as the person who questioned Archie's skin tone, although this has never been confirmed.
The Telegraph reported that both Charles and Meghan acknowledged that the individual's comment was not made with malicious intent. The publication also noted that the Sussexes were frustrated that initial email correspondence about the coronation did not mention their children or the possibility of their involvement, exacerbating their feeling of being secondary to the Wales family.
During the Oprah interview, Meghan stated that there were "several conversations" between an unnamed royal family member and the Duke about their unborn son's appearance. She suggested that there were concerns about his skin color, but declined to reveal the individual's identity, saying it would be "very damaging to them."
Prince Harry, when asked about the issue, did not elaborate but indicated that it was a single conversation that had occurred. He admitted, "It was awkward. I was a bit shocked."
Charles was reportedly surprised by the allegations, while Prince William countered, "We are very much not a racist family."
In 2021, the authors of "Finding Freedom" claimed that the Sussexes had considered naming the royal family member on television but decided against it due to the potential damage. While promoting his book, "Spare," Harry, 38, denied accusing the royal family of racism but acknowledged their "unconscious bias."
The Telegraph also reported that Meghan feels her concerns during her time in the palace, which led to suicidal thoughts, have not yet been addressed.