In recent years, the British Royal Family has seen a period of significant turbulence, precipitated in part by the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The strife was exemplified by the couple's abandonment of royal duties, informally referred to as Sussexit.
An interview they later gave Oprah Winfrey exacerbated the situation further.
In 2021, the Sussexes sat down with the venerable American TV host in an interview later widely described as a 'bombshell.' The couple opened up about the complexities of their royal lives and made allegations that ultimately polarised fans of the monarchy. While some rallied behind Harry and Meghan and others criticised them for airing the family's proverbial dirty laundry in public, few considered the interviewer's perspective when those harsh words were spoken.
However, as Oprah Winfrey revealed in a subsequent conversation with her CBS colleague, Gayle King, she was as taken aback by the revelations as everyone else. She confessed that she hadn't set out to conduct a 'bombshell' interview – a term she used with evident reluctance as if it somehow diminished her craft.
'I was as surprised by the bombshell as everybody else. I was doing an interview to offer them [Prince Harry and Meghan Markle] a platform to tell their story about why they left. And that was my number one intention, was just clarity on "Why did you leave?"' Oprah told the CBS Mornings hostess.
Given that the interview took place shortly after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the journalists broached the topic of potential reconciliation within the Royal Family. While Winfrey recognised that it's normal for families to set aside their differences in times of grief, she was careful to maintain that she strived to 'stay out of family business.'
Oprah expressed regret over the impact of the interview on Harry and Meghan's relationships within the family and the public divide it brought about. However, the iconic TV personality maintained that she never intended to stir up such a maelstrom of controversy; it appears she got more than she bargained for.
Source: Twitter.