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The Queen "won't be watching" Prince Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

The Queen "won't watch" Prince Harry and Meghan's sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey, which will air in the US tonight (Sunday, March 7th), and in the UK tomorrow (Monday, March 8th).

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will share their side of the story about their decision to step back from senior royal duties and settle in America to chat show host Oprah.

According to The Sunday Times, the monarch will be going on a "charm offensive" this week to show that the royal family are "focusing on bigger issues", rather than the ongoing "toxic" PR battle with Harry and Meghan.

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

The 94-year-old queen is expected to increase her public engagements over the coming days to show the public "where the focus is".

"Her Majesty has a few things going," a royal source said. "I don't think anybody should expect her to stay up and watch the interview. She won't."

A senior palace official added: "The mood in the family is: can everyone shut the bell up and can we just get on with the day job."

Photo credit: Pool - Getty Images
Photo credit: Pool - Getty Images

A purported friend of the couple also told the newspaper that Meghan was suffering from poor mental health during her time as a senior royal, which they suggest was ignored by senior courtiers.

"Meghan was in a very poor mental state for a lot if it [her time as a royal], which is why I think it is incredibly dangerous for the palace to attack in this way, " the friend explained.

In a clip of the Oprah interview which released last week by CBS, Meghan has alleged that the palace "perpetuated falsehoods" about herself and Harry. It was then claimed by Sussexes’ former communications secretary, Jason Knauf, that Meghan forced two personal assistants to leave and undermined a third employee.

Meghan's representative firmly denied the claims, arguing it is just the most recent instalment of the media's smear campaign against her.

“The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma," read a statement from her rep.

"She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good."

Meghan's former Suits co-star Patrick J Adams rushed to her defence on Friday, accusing Buckingham Palace of "toxic" behaviour and saying he was "sickened" by the British press for "the endless racist, slanderous, clickbaiting vitriol" aimed at the duchess.

He described Meghan as "an enthusiastic, kind, cooperative, giving, joyful" woman, and called the palace "obscene" for "promoting and amplifying accusations of 'bullying' against" her.

Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview will air on Sunday, March 7th at 8pm eastern on CBS in the US, and Monday, March 8th at 9pm on ITV.


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