America reacts with fury at Royal family over Duchess of Sussex’s racism accusations

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex speak to Oprah Winfrey

Credit: CBS

America reacted with deep sympathy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and there was widespread anger at Buckingham Palace following their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Much of the focus was on the revelation that a senior royal discussed the Duke and Duchess’s son Archie and "how dark his skin might be when he’s born."

The interview sparked a wave of goodwill for the Duchess in particular, and was widely seen as disastrous for the palace.

Ana Navarro, a Republican strategist and co-host on The View, Americas top-rated daytime talk show, said: "Oof. There hasn’t been this much English tea spilled in America since the Boston Tea Party."

Joe Biden’s White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield weighed in following the Duchess’s comments that the palace had not "protected" her.

Ms Bedingfield "liked" a tweet from a Democratic strategist repeating the Duchess’s words: "IN MY OLD JOB THERE WAS A UNION AND THEY WOULD PROTECT ME."

Friends of the Duchess applauded her for speaking out.

Serena Williams, the US tennis star who co-hosted her baby shower in 2019, said the Duchess was a victim of "systematic oppression".

pic.twitter.com/fYx4HlZutl

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) March 8, 2021

She said: "Meghan Markle, my selfless friend, lives her life — and leads by example — with empathy and compassion.

"She teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble. Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she’s experienced."

Ms Williams added: "I know first hand the sexism and racism institutions and the media use to vilify women and people of colour to minimise us."

Civil rights activists said they were shocked and dismayed following the interview.

Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian at the Duke and Duchess's wedding

Credit: AFP

Bernice King, daughter of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr, said: "Royalty is not a shield from the devastation and despair of racism."

Abby Philip, a black CNN correspondent, said it was "heartbreaking" and Nina Parker, a prominent black TV entertainment correspondent, said: "You know why black women believe Meghan? Because we know exactly what micro aggressions look like. And how they slowly drive you insane."

Meena Harris, niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, and a bestselling children’s author, declared it "Meghan Markle Appreciation Day".

Her Majesty The Queen Oprah

— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) March 8, 2021

Ms Harris wrote on Twitter: "She was suicidal and begged for help. Oprah bout to fight somebody her damn self."

Roxane Gay, the best-selling author of "Bad Feminist" said the Duchess had been "driven to suicidal ideation by colonial racism, royal indifference and the British press willing to carry royal water."

And Amanda Gorman, the young black poet who stole the show at Joe Biden’s inauguration, said: "Meghan was the Crown’s greatest opportunity for change, regeneration, and reconciliation in a new era.

Amanda Gorman spoke out in support of the Duchess 

Credit: AP

"They didn’t just maltreat her light — they missed out on it."

Trish Regan, a former host on Fox News, said: "Good for them [the Sussexes] for getting the hell out of there."

On social media some of the anger at the palace boiled over.

There were calls to "finish what the American Revolution started" and "burn down" the Monarchy.

There was widespread praise in America for Ms Winfrey’s handling of the interview.

Meena Harris called the chat show host "Her Majesty The Queen Oprah".

And Jon Favreau, former President Barack Obama’s speechwriter, said: "No one can interview like that. Insanely talented."