According to a new book by Valentine Low, “Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown,” Kate Middleton had a part in the royal family’s response to Prince Harry and Meghan’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Kate Middleton, as per the book, argued for the inclusion of the phrase “some recollections may vary” in the official statement. The book suggests that Kate was a strong advocate for toughening the language of the response.
The royal family’s initial rebuttal to the allegations made in the interview, which included concerns about remarks regarding the skin tone of baby Archie, contained a softer variant of the “recollections” phrase. Yet, Prince William and his wife were reportedly of the view that the institution must assertively express its disagreement with many of the statements made during the interview. Middleton advocated for the retention of the phrase in the statement, believing it would be scrutinized by history, and it would challenge the acceptance of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ comments as the ultimate truth.
The book portrays Middleton as a cautious tactician, with her attention fixed on her future position as the Queen. It also credits the creation of the phrase to Jean-Christophe Gray, Prince William’s private secretary, although some believe it to be the work of Sir Clive Alderton. The book also reveals that Queen Elizabeth decided to watch the Oprah interview on ITV before commenting on it.
In the interview, Meghan Markle alleged that she was “silenced” by the royal institution and did not receive help during a mental health crisis. The royal family, in its response, expressed sadness over the struggles Harry and Meghan experienced, committing to addressing the raised issues, particularly those relating to race, in a private manner. The statement reinforced that Harry, Meghan, and Archie were cherished members of the family. Oprah later clarified that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were not implicated by Prince Harry as the ones who made the comment about Archie’s skin color.
