Oprah Just Denied Rumors That She Helped Harry and Meghan With Their Royal Exit

From Oprah Magazine

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently announced their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family this week, a move that's been met with more questions than answers.

• Following the news, Oprah reacted to inaccurate reports that she was involved in their decision making, telling People, "Meghan and Harry do not need my help figuring out what's best for them."
  

This week will go down in history books: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have decided to step down as “senior members” of the royal family. While the implications of their move—plus their decision to seek financial independence—require further analysis (Will they keep their royal titles? Deliver a tell-all interview? Is Harry still sixth in line to the thrown?), one friend of the couple has been abruptly thrown into the conversation: Oprah Winfrey.

After Page Six reported that a source said Oprah “advised” Harry and Markle on their shift-shaping decision, our very own O of O cleared to air, telling People, “Meghan and Harry do not need my help figuring out what’s best for them.” She added, “I care about them both and support whatever decisions they make for their family.”

Oprah famously attended the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s royal wedding in May 2018 (in a pastel pink Stella McCartney dress that was, fun fact, initially white), sharing in her “What I Know For Sure” column in our magazine that their nuptials gave her hope.

“I thought immediately of the history, the legacy, the astounding moment Meghan Markle was stepping into. And what it would take to be prepared for such a moment. The life she was leaving behind and the new world to which she was rising—all part of a destiny she helped designed,” Oprah wrote. “Though media outlets around the world described the event as the perfect fairy-tale ending, all mature beings recognized it as the beginning it was.”

The later chapters of their story unfortunately didn’t read like said fairy-tale. Markle in particular has faced continuous scrutiny from the British press, and both Oprah and Gayle King, O’s editor at large, have come to her defense.

“I think she’s being portrayed unfairly,” Oprah told Gayle during an April 2019 appearance on CBS This Morning. “I feel that if people really knew her, they would know that she is not only everything you perceive her as being—graceful and dynamic in holding that position—but that she just has a wonderful warm, giving, funny heart. I see all the crazy press around her, and I think it’s really unfair.”

Harry and Markle announced their resignation via Instagram, and according to reports, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and the top-ranking royals are “sad” and “furious” at the decision, one now being dubbed “Megxit”—a portmanteau of Meghan and Brexit.

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” their joint statement began. “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronage.”

The Instagram post found the tables once more turned on Markle, with fans this time blaming the former Suits actress for manipulating Harry and influencing his decision making.

But OprahMag.com. Digital Director Arianna Davis pointed out in response: “It’s not only racist and sexist, but ignorant to assume the Duchess must be the angry Black woman who convinced Prince Harry not to continue with his beloved royal duties." She added: “It’s actually because of the way his wife has been treated that Harry ultimately decided to protect his wife, and their son, from the same kind of hounding and attention that eventually caused his mother’s death.”

Whatever was the straw to break the camel’s back will only one day be revealed by Harry and Markle themselves, and we have one suggestion for the perfect interviewer: How about someone with the most celebrated daytime talk show of all time?

For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter!