Michelle Obama ‘not a surprised’ by Meghan Markle’s claims of racism in Royal Family

Michelle Obama and Prince Harry have been friends for a number of years

Credit: AFP/SAUL LOEB 

Michelle Obama described the Duchess of Sussex’s claims that her unborn son’s skin colour was questioned by a member of the Royal Family as “heartbreaking” but not a “complete surprise”. 

Mrs Obama made the comments in an interview after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s damaging claims in a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey last week. 

"As I said before, race isn’t a new construct in this world for people of colour, and so it wasn’t a complete surprise to hear her feelings and to have them articulated," the former US first lady told NBC News in an interview due to be broadcast on Tuesday morning in the US.

Asked about the Duchess’s claims, Mrs Obama said: "I feel like that was heartbreaking to hear, that she felt like she was in her own family — her own family thought differently of her."

Mrs Obama added that she prayed “for forgiveness and healing” for the couple “so that they can use this as a teachable moment for us all”.

Former president Barack Obama and his wife are said to have a close relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The first lady also struck up a friendship with the monarch during a visit to the UK in 2009, where she famously broke royal protocol by putting her arm around the Queen’s shoulders.

The Queen said last Tuesday that the Royals were saddened by the challenging experiences of her grandson Harry and his wife.

She promised to privately address revelations about a racist remark about their son.

Prince William denied that the family are racist during his first public engagement since the Oprah broadcast. 

“We are very much not a racist family,” he said.