It was announced on Monday that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry granted Oprah Winfrey what is set to be their first sit-down interview since they announced their engagement. Then on Tuesday, Daily Mail confirmed that Harry and Meghan are to be stripped of their remaining royal patronages.
It seems the Royal Family is bracing for the potential impact of this tell-all Primetime Special. According to their source, the Queen will ask the couple to disassociate themselves with any organizations tied to the Royal Family.
Royal sources had warned that this tell-all interview would bring about serious consequences for Meghan and Harry in the eyes of the Queen. Now that seems to be in motion.
There will be no way back to official duties if they go through with it.
To make matters more interesting, Meghan and Harry announced that they are expecting their second child just a few days ago.
Meghan And Harry Agree To Tell-All Oprah Primetime Special
The show “Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” will air on March 7.
A press release stated: “Oprah Winfrey as she sits down with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for an intimate conversation for an exclusive primetime special. Winfrey will speak with Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, in a wide-ranging interview, covering everything from stepping into life as a Royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work to how she is handling life under intense public pressure.’
“Later, the two are joined by Prince Harry as they speak about their move to the United States and their future hopes and dreams for their expanding family,” the press release added.
Related: Meghan Markle Scores Victory In Court But Says The Damage Inflicted ‘Runs Deep’
Fall-Out From Interview
A source told Daily Mail that this interview is “one of the most inevitable and, sadly, predictable consequences” of the “Megxit” saga.
Though it is not known if Meghan and Harry notified the royal family before announcing this interview, another source said that they were “under no obligation” to do so.
“The Duke and Duchess are no longer working members of the royal family and therefore any decisions they take with regard to media commitments are matters for them,” the insider told Entertainment Tonight. “As non-working members of the royal family, they are under no obligation to inform the royal household of such plans.”
Royal sources say that because of this interview, both Harry and Meghan will likely be stripped of all the royal patronages that they still have.
This means that Harry will lose his three remaining honorary military titles. And, he could potentially lose his patronages with the Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League, and the London Marathon.
As for Meghan, she will have to step down as patron of the National Theatre.
Queen Elizabeth had been patron of the London organization for 45 years before she handed it over to Meghan in 2019 in what was considered to be a huge honor at the time.
‘Betrayal Of Trust’
Royal author Robert Jobson said that Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah is a “betrayal of trust,” and that they “seem hell bent on causing the Queen more discomfort and possible embarrassment.”
“This interview is a betrayal of trust whatever way you look at it,” Jobson said. “Harry, who claimed he wanted to escape the publicity of being a front-line royal, has swapped duty for a cash bonanza deal with Netflix. We are not told if money has been paid for this interview.”
“The army veteran, who served with distinction in Afghanistan, often talks about respecting the Queen,” he added. “But to be blunt his decision to join his wife’s tell all on US television interview after they exited the royal family so noisily and dramatically, is another act of disrespect.”
It remains to be seen how this Oprah Primetime Special will play out, and what exactly the fallout will be afterwards.
UPDATE: This article has been updated to include Daily Mail’s subsequent report that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will lose their remaining royal patronages.
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