Sources have claimed the Royal Family may hire a “diversity chief” following televised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle interview.
People close to the Royal Family have announced they may hire a “chief of diversity”. This comes in the aftermath of Meghan and Harry’s bombshell interview with Oprah earlier this month.
During the two-hour chat, Meghan told how a key royal speculated the colour of her child’s skin before he was born. She alleges her son Archie was later refused security because he would not be titled a Prince.
“The Firm” has faced significant backlash since the revelation. Calls have come from across the globe in support of reassessing the Royals’ attitude to diversity. As heads of 54 Commonwealth countries, many critics expected the Royals to have a more open view of race.
Prince William quickly shot down the accusations, stating simply “we are very much not a racist family”. Buckingham Palace also attempted to calm the media storm, ensuring the recollections would be “addressed by the family privately”.
Other royals have spent the past few weeks trying to stay in the public eye for positive reasons. Kate Middleton attended a vigil for Sarah Everard last week, and letters by George, Charlotte and Louis to their late “Granny Diana” were shared on Mother’s Day.
Last weekend, a source close to Buckingham Palace explained that hiring a diversity chief was “something to be considered”. Although they made clear no plans were set in stone, they said “the idea of someone to spearhead this work and look at diversity/inclusion across the three households” was an option.
Gayle King, a friend of Oprah and CBS News presenter, jumped to defend Meghan and Harry as this story broke. She branded it “fallout” from the interview, and said she was “curious to see what type of person they’d choose”.
Even once racism within the Royal Family is tackled, Meghan’s highlighting of other problems means work is still to be done. For example, Meghan shared how HR could not help her with suicidal thoughts and depression, as she was not staff. Without access to her phone and cards, she felt trapped.
Despite Harry’s claims that his father Charles stopped taking his calls, Buckingham Palace maintains “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members.”
Faye Minton
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