Prince Harry Confirmed the Queen Never Made Comments About Archie's Skin Tone
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Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is Queen Elizabeth's great-grandson. His father, Prince Harry, is sixth in line to the British throne; his mother, Meghan Markle is the Duchess of Sussex. Yet for all these deep royal connections, Archie is not a prince.
Unlike his first cousins—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—Archie doesn't even have an HRH title. He is referred to as "Master Archie," per Daily Mail's royals editor.
Speaking to Oprah during a two-hour interview special, Meghan Markle revealed the truth behind this decision—and alluded to the fact that it might have had to do with Archie's race and the potential color of his skin. The prevailing narrative in the media at the time of Archie's birth was that Harry and Markle intentionally opted for Archie to forego a royal title. In fact, Markle said, this was not the case: The decision was made for them. "It was not our decision to make," Markle said.
The question of title was also wrapped up in other pressing matters. Since the unborn child was not to receive an HRH title, he or she would also not receive security. "Having the title gives you the safety and protection," she explained. Security concerns were partly the reason that Markle and Harry did not take photos at the hospital after Archie was born, like William and Kate have done with their children.
Markle said that she and Harry still do not have a definitive answer as to why Archie did not receive a title. However, she did open up about conversations that Harry had regarding with family members about his future child's race. "There [were] conversations with Harry about how dark your baby is going to be and what that would mean or look like," she said.
Oprah followed up: "They were concerned that if he were too brown that that would be a problem?" Markle responded, "I wasn't able to follow up. If that's the assumption you're making...that would be a safe one."
Markle confirmed that Harry had spoken to a close family member on the subject of their future child's skin color, but opted not to share names, as it would be too "damaging" for the individual. Later, Harry told Oprah that he would "never" share the details of that exchange, but did say it happened "early on" in his relationship with Markle.
The following day, on CBS This Morning, Oprah added that Harry wanted her to share that his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, were not involved in those conversations.
Markle emphasized that the titles, in the end, are not her concern. "All the grandeur surrounding this stuff is an attachment I don't have. I've been a waitress, an actress, a princess, a duchess. I'm clear on who I am independent of that stuff. The most important title I will ever have is 'Mom,'" she said.
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