When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sat down with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, what was meant to be a personal conversation quickly became one of the most talked-about royal moments of the century. What emerged was a series of deeply personal disclosures that peeled back the polished veneer of royal life — and ignited global controversy.
In that interview, Meghan revealed that she had not prepared for what life as a senior royal would entail, admitting she hadn’t even researched the role before marrying Harry. She described feeling isolated and silenced within the institution and said that, at one point, she struggled with thoughts of self-harm. Crucially, she claimed that during her pregnancy with Archie there were conversations within the royal family about how dark his skin might be, and that this was linked to decisions on titles and security — a disclosure that reverberated around the world.
The couple also spoke openly about strained relationships with senior royals. Prince Harry said he felt alienated from his father and brother and made the difficult choice to step back from royal duties for the sake of his family’s mental health.
Reactions were sharply divided. In Britain, many saw the interview as a betrayal of royal tradition and loyalty, while others viewed it as a courageous exposure of institutional failings. Online audiences split, with some echoing hashtags like #shutupHarry, and others defending the couple’s right to speak.
Even today, commentators say that Meghan’s disclosures continue to shape public conversations about the monarchy, race, mental health and privacy — long after the cameras were turned off, and long before the next potential revelations hinted at in later interviews.