Did Queen Elizabeth watch Meghan Markle's Oprah interview? British monarch busy in 'her own country,' say sources
Meghan Markle may have spilled the tea on a number of scandals involving the royal family in her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday, March 7, but the head of that family will have to catch up on the highlights of the accusations hurled by the Duchess of Sussex as reports say she will not be watching it live.
Despite Queen Elizabeth's known fondness for watching the television at times, an insider told US Weekly that the 94-year-old British monarch will be skipping the two-hour special interview given by Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry because she has other important matters regarding the Firm to get to. “There is no way the queen will watch the interview tonight. She has a briefing, early Monday morning,” a source told the publication, noting that the queen “will be focusing on the ongoings in her own country.”
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The queen was seen performing her royal duties even hours before the CBS interview aired, in which the formerly royal couple shares previously unheard details about their marriage and their struggles with adjusting to the palace life. She delivered a speech in honor of Commonwealth Day in which she praised people across the nation for coming together amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Over the coming week, as we celebrate the friendship, spirit of unity and achievements of the Commonwealth, we have an opportunity to reflect on a time like no other,” she said in her pre-recorded speech. “Whilst experiences of the last year have been different across the Commonwealth, stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory, notably by those working on the frontline who have been delivering healthcare and other public services.”
She added that it was encouraging to witness people supporting one another amid the crisis facing the Commonwealth since last year. “We have also taken encouragement from remarkable advances in developing new vaccines and treatments,” she told viewers. “The testing times experienced by so many have led to a deeper appreciation of the mutual support and spiritual sustenance we enjoy being connected to others. The need to maintain greater physical distance, or to live and work largely in isolation, has, for many people across the Commonwealth, been an unusual experience.”
🌍 In this year’s #CommonwealthDay message The Queen
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 7, 2021
pays tribute to the way in which communities across the family of nations have come together in response to the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/rOoUMJLlKg
Despite the fact that Meghan and Harry interview aired in the mid of the hospitalization of Prince Philip after undergoing surgery on his heart, royal correspondent Omid Scobie told Entertainment Tonight on Friday, 26, that the 'Suits' star and the Duke of Sussex remain close with the monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh.
“It’s a tough one for Harry and Meghan,” Scobie explained. “They planned this interview before Prince Philip was admitted to the hospital, and, unfortunately, here we are facing the third weekend of him still in the care of the hospital here in London. But for Harry and Meghan, they have kept a great relationship with Philip and the queen.”
However, it is unclear as to how the interview will affect the relationship between Harry and his grandparents, especially after The Times published a report last week containing allegations that Meghan bullied her advisers before stepping down from her duties last year. Her rep has denied the claims in a statement, saying, “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.”