Buckingham Palace announced that evening that the Human Resources Department would investigate the allegations. It was “very concerned” about the allegations leveled in the “Times” article. Employees, including former employees, should be included. The royal family will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace, it said in a written statement.
Harry and Meghan had turned away from the royal family early last year and announced that they would become financially independent. With his now one-year-old son Archie, he moved first to Canada, then to the USA. A decision they do not want to reverse either, as was recently confirmed.
Externally, he had always justified the move with the great burden of constant observation and adverse reporting in the media. Harry complained about the “sexism and racism of trolls in social networks” in Autumn 2019 and did a racist act in parts of the British press towards his wife. But even within the royal family the difference of that time could no longer be hidden. During a visit to South Africa, he admitted in front of the camera that he and his brother William were “definitely on different paths”.
A clear indication of this break was that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as Harry and Meghan are said to be in Great Britain, had already withdrawn from the joint foundation with William and Kate in the summer of 2019. The once shared Twitter account of Kensington Palace was now managed only in the names of Kate and William.
Regarding the background, a lot should come to light in the Oprah Winfrey interview, at least from Sussex’s point of view. American broadcaster CBS had already advertised a conversation with Meghan and Harry in short portions. Among other things, talk show host Winfrey said: “You have said some shocking things here.” It remains to be seen whether Meghan and Harry will actually settle accounts not only with the media, but also with Buckingham Palace and the royal family. The interview will be broadcast on US television only on the night of March 8 (CET).
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210303-99-667798 / 7
