Story at a glance
- On NBC’s “TODAY” show Tuesday, Obama was asked about her thoughts regarding the recent interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
- “Race isn’t a new construct in this world for people of color, and so it wasn’t a complete surprise to hear her feelings and to have them articulated,” the former first lady said.
Former first lady Michelle Obama says it wasn’t a “complete surprise” to hear Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, open up about alleged racism within the royal family and said she hoped there would be forgiveness.
In a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, the former Meghan Markle, who is biracial, said that before her son with Prince Harry was born, there were conversations within the royal family about “how dark [her son’s] skin might be.” Meghan declined to name who allegedly made the remarks, but it was later clarified the conversation was not had by Queen Elizabeth II or Prince Philip.
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Meghan also described the loneliness and isolation she felt as a British royal, explaining that at one point she thought, “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
On NBC’s “TODAY” show Tuesday, Obama was asked about her thoughts on the interview, particularly the issue of race.
“Public service, it’s a bright, sharp, hot spotlight, and most people don’t understand it, and nor should they,” she told Jenna Bush Hager. “The thing that I always keep in mind is that none of this is about us in public service. It’s about the people that we serve.”
“As I said before, race isn’t a new construct in this world for people of color, and so it wasn’t a complete surprise to hear her feelings and to have them articulated,” she said.
The former first lady said she’s praying for forgiveness and healing for the family so they can “use this as a teachable moment for us all.”
Buckingham Palace last Tuesday said the royal family was “saddened” to hear of the challenges the couple faced, especially those regarding race, and said those would be privately addressed.
Harry and Meghan have stepped away from their duties as full-time working royals and have left the United Kingdom for California.
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