Prince Harry, Meghan Markle have created a stir and the online world is abuzz

Raising the issues of racism and the dysfunctional Royal life, Meghan-Harry’s tell-all interview in the garden setting with Oprah Winfrey has sure lived up the hype it created. While the Royals have opted for dignified silence on accusations of being racist, distant and non-cooperative to the ‘American princess’, reactions from around the world have people divided.

Mental health and racism were the two major concerns raised across the globe. With their colonial past, it’s not the first time that ‘racism’ issue has been raised. Queen Victoria took Maharaja Duleep Singh and Princess of Coorg, Gowramma, later known as Gowramma, into the Royal fold but never fully accepted the same. Lately, the Windsor’s complete silence over Black Lives Matter fuelled the allegations further.

Not ‘racist’ but ‘dumb’?

Meghan’s father Thomas Markle said on Tuesday that he did not think the British royal family was racist, and hoped that an alleged remark from a family member about the darkness of the skin of Meghan’s son was just a “dumb question”. Meghan said that her son Archie, now aged one, had been denied the title of prince because there were concerns within the royal family.

“I don’t think the British royal family is racist at all. I don’t think the British are racist, I think Los Angeles is racist, California is a racist, but I don’t think the Brits are,” Markle said in an interview. “The thing about what colour will the baby be or how dark will the baby be; I’m guessing and hoping it’s just a dumb question from somebody …” — Reuters

Queen breaks silence

Queen Elizabeth said the British royals were saddened by the challenging experiences of her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan and promised to privately address revelations about a racist remark about their son. “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement issued on behalf of Elizabeth. “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.” A royal source said the Palace considered that this was a family matter and the royals should be given the opportunity to discuss the issues raised privately as a family. The source added that they needed to carefully consider the response before it was issued. — Reuters

Big show

More than 12 million people watched the British broadcast of Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Meghan and Prince Harry on Monday night, the royal editor of the broadcaster ITV said. Chris Ship said ITV, which showed the two-hour interview at night after it was broadcast in the United States, had drawn 12.3 million people at the peak of the programme while the whole show had an average of 11 million viewers. The interview attracted a 54 per cent share of the television audience at the time. — Reuters

Reverberations across globe

In Accra, Ghana, Devinia Cudjoe said that hearing that a member of the royal family was worried about the colour of the skin was insulting to people of the Commonwealth, the grouping of Britain and its former colonies that is headed by the queen. In Nairobi, Kenya, Rebecca Wangare called Meghan “a 21st- century icon of a strong woman. She has faced racism head-on.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused to comment on the interview, praising the queen but saying that “when it comes to matters to do with the royal family the right thing for a prime minister to say is nothing.” — AP

It’s a literal tea party on Twitter

Post Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, Twitter is having a tea party of its own. Memes and videos on the Royals setting up a podcast to say their side of the story had social media users entertained.

FK@fkabudu

Oprah clarifying every single statement for maximum tea

Meg: xyz

O: X Y Z???

Ahmed Ali @MrAhmednurAli

Netflix better hire Meghan to play herself on The Crown.

#HarryandMeghanonOprah

tasha Potted plant@tashpocket

So the HR department is useless no matter where you go

Ollie @owoolers

When Archie says drive safe to Meghan.. #MeghanandHarryonOprah

Jessica Fyre @TheJessieWoo

Princess Diana watching Meghan spill tea from Heaven #OprahMeghanHarry

Skyerenaee @skyerenaee1