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Meghan Markle interview slammed as 'betrayal' by British viewers, American friends praise 'honesty and bravery'

Meghan made claims of racism about Harry's family in the most sensational royal interview in decades. She claimed the royal family was worried about how 'dark' their child would be and that Kate Middleton once made her cry in a row over flowergirl dresses before she married Harry

There was a notable split between American and British viewers over Meghan Markle's shocking interview with Oprah Winfrey Sunday night. American viewers lauded the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their "honesty" and "bravery," while those in the UK called for the couple to be stripped of their royal titles.

Meghan made claims of racism about Harry's family in the most sensational royal interview in decades. She claimed the royal family was worried about how "dark" their child would be and that Kate Middleton once made her cry in a row over flowergirl dresses before she married Harry. Meanwhile, Harry said his father Charles had stopped receiving his calls after he began "taking matters into his own hands." He added that the firm had become a "trapping" environment and he felt he had "nowhere to turn to" when Meghan told him she was having suicidal thoughts while expecting their first child together, the Daily Mail reported.

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British viewers lashed out at the couple on social media, calling for them to be stripped of their Duke and Duchess ranks. Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan said the interview was an "absolutely disgraceful betrayal of the Queen."

"This interview is an absolutely disgraceful betrayal of the Queen and the Royal Family," Piers tweeted. "I expect all this vile destructive self-serving nonsense from Meghan Markle - but for Harry to let her take down his family and the Monarchy like this is shameful."

"Harry wants America and the rest of the world to hate his own family, hate the Monarchy, and hate his country," the British TV host added. "I suggest everyone waits for the victims of his wife's rampage to have their say on her outlandish claims before they do so," he wrote, referring to the bullying claims made by royal staffers last week that prompted an investigation by Buckingham Palace.  

Nonetheless, Meghan's American friends -- including Serena Williams and US poet Amanda Gorman -- rallied behind her in support. Williams took to Twitter to describe Meghan as a "selfless friend" who "teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble."

"Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she's experienced," Williams said in a statement. "I know first hand the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of color to minimize us, to break us down and demonize us. We must recognize our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism." 

"Meghan is living the life Diana should have, if only those around her had been as brave as she was," Gorman said. "Meghan isn’t living a life without pain, but a life without a prison."

But while US viewers heaped praise on the Duchess, those in the UK slammed her for "disrespecting the Queen" in the tell-all Oprah interview.

"Has Meghan just basically called the Royal Family racist? She's proper trying to stir the pot in this interview isn't she, that's Harry's family. Personally, I think Harry and Meghan's titles need to be removed. They have gone too far with this," one tweeted.

"The Queen needs to strip Harry & Meghan of their titles, remove Harry from the succession, ban them from all State events and deny them any financial support. The family should cut them off. Harry doesn't care about his family at all. Meghan only cares about attention and money," another added.

"I also feel that both Harry and Meghan should indeed be stripped of their Royal Titles and all benefits associated therewith. End," one remarked, while another tweeted, "Meghan and Harry are an affront to this country, Her Majesty, and should have titles stripped immediately."