Meghan says it’s ‘ridiculous’ that she’s missing coronation because of a letter she sent Charles
The Duchess of Sussex has said the suggestion she misses the coronation over a letter she sent to King Charles about racism and “unconscious bias” within the royal family is “downright ridiculous”.
It was reported on Friday that Meghan Markle wrote King Charles after her amazing Oprah interview, and she reportedly named the person accused of speculating about the skin color of her unborn son Archie.
It is understood that it was sent in response to a letter from the King – the only senior member of the family to have contacted the Duchess after Meghan and Harry were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
A source told it Daily telegram that the Duchess will not attend the coronation on 6 May because she has received an unsatisfactory answer from the King.
But Sussex insider Omid Scobie released a statement from Team Sussex, who in response to the reports said it was ‘false’ and ‘downright ridiculous’.
Meghan Markle wrote to King Charles about unconscious bias in the royal family following her bombshell interview with Oprah, it was alleged last night (The Duchess of Sussex is pictured with King Charles in March 2019 at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey)
It is understood that it was sent in response to a message from the King – the only senior member of the family to have contacted the Duchess after Meghan and Harry were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 (pictured)
The Duchess of Sussex’s letter reportedly named the person accused of speculating about the skin color of her unborn son Archie, but further claimed that the person was not racist (pictured with Prince Archie in Cape Town in September 2019 on a tour of South Africa)
Writing from his Twitter account, Omid Scobie posted the statement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
It read: ‘The Duchess of Sussex lives her life in the present and does not think of correspondence from two years ago which relates to conversations from four years ago.
“Any other suggestion is false and downright ridiculous.
“We encourage tabloid media and various other royal correspondents to stop exhausting the circus they alone are creating.”
According to the earlier reports, Buckingham Palace is also aware of the Sussex family’s frustration that initial correspondence regarding the coronation failed to refer to their children.
Harry will attend the May 6 celebration alone, while Meghan will look after Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in California on his fourth birthday.
A royal insider suggested that while the exchange was warm in tone, it had not eased tension between the two sides.
Relations continued to deteriorate after the Sussexes stared in a six-part Netflix docuseries and the publication of Harry’s revealing memoir, Spare.
Charles, who was Prince of Wales at the time, is said to have been disappointed that Meghan and Harry felt the need to make such damaging accusations public.
He recently supported a research project into the monarch’s historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade, having previously expressed “personal grief.”
MailOnline reached out to the Sussexes for comment but received no reply, and instead the pair released the statement through Scobie.
Prince Harry has touched on unconscious bias in the past. In January this year, he spoke to Tom Bradby on ITV to promote his memoir.
The presenter said ‘in the Oprah interview you accused members of your family of racism’, Harry responded by saying ‘no I didn’t’, adding ‘the British press said so’.
After Bradby said the Duchess claimed disturbing comments had been made about Archie’s complexion, Harry said, “There was – there was concern about his complexion.”
Asked if he would describe that as racist, the duke said: “I wouldn’t, because I didn’t live in that family.”
He continued, “The difference between racism and unconscious bias, the two things are different.”
Meghan said the comment about Archie’s skin was not made with malice. But a source told the Daily Telegraph that the Duchess will not be attending the coronation on May 6 because she has received an unsatisfactory response from the King (pictured with the King and Queen consort in Mary 2018)
Buckingham Palace is also aware of the Sussex family’s frustration that initial correspondence regarding the coronation failed to refer to their children.
“But once it’s acknowledged, whether you’ve been made aware as an individual or as an institution, that you have unconscious biases, you therefore have an opportunity to learn from that and grow so that you’re part of the solution rather than part of it.” the problem.’
It has also been reported that Prince Harry was ‘desperate’ to be at the coronation to publicly support his father as he is ‘homesick’.
The sun also reported on Friday that despite the duke’s repeated attempts to contact the king to discuss the plans during his stay in London, his father has only been able to write in time for one meeting.
It’s clear that Harry was “missing aspects of British life” and “might be spending more time” in the UK.
A source told the publication, “Harry was desperate to come back for the coronation and spend quality time with his family.”
Buckingham Palace announced on April 14 that Prince Harry will attend the King’s coronation service in London alone next month, while the Duchess of Sussex remains in California with their children.
But the Duchess stays at home at the couple’s Montecito residence with year-old Lilibet and Archie, whose fourth birthday falls on the same day as the ceremony.
The couple’s boyfriend, Omid Scobie, confirmed Archie’s birthdayplayed a part in the couple’s decision’ and he expected it to be a ‘pretty quick trip to the UK’ for Harry. The Duke will only attend the ceremony itself, which will likely last a few hours.
The announcement came just over three weeks before the event, and a royal observer told MailOnline: ‘Charles will be pleased. The rest of the family will be relieved that Meghan won’t be there – it would have been extremely uncomfortable for Kate.”
Harry and Meghan had delayed their decision on whether or not to fly for the ceremony, despite the April 3 RSVP date having passed.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. The Duchess of Sussex will stay in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
Archewell, Harry and Meghan’s charity foundation, subsequently issued an almost identical statement to the Press Association news agency confirming that the Duke will be attending.
A spokesman said: ‘The Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on May 6. The Duchess of Sussex will stay in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
Charles will be crowned in a ceremony full of splendor and traditions stretching back 1,000 years, following the 70-year reign of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died last September.
Mr Scobie, a trusted contact of the Sussexes, tweeted the news of Harry’s imminent presence, adding: ‘I understand that Archie’s fourth birthday (also on May 6) played a part in the couple’s decision.
“Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only attend the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.”
And ITV News’ editor in chief Chris Ship said: ‘Considering everything that has been said/claimed – in six Netflix episodes and one book – this is a major development.
“But Harry coming alone means less pressure on the royal family – and fewer of those awkward photos together.”
Harry was scheduled to fly back to California just hours after his father’s coronation ceremony.
Royal sources claimed Harry told the King he won’t be staying in Britain for the star-studded concert at Windsor Castle the next day – and will instead fly back to the US after the ceremony so he can be with his family and let the celebrate Archie’s fourth birthday. is also on May 6.