"This interview will probably only be a prelude," explains Royal expert Mareile Höppner about the revelations of Harry and Meghan.
The interview by Duchess Meghan (39) and Prince Harry (36) with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey (67) made headlines around the world. Meghan speaks about massive mental problems, suicidal thoughts and alleged racism at court, among other things, Harry confirms, among other things, his broken relationship with his father Prince Charles (72). "This interview will and must have consequences," says Mareile Höppner (43). "The cracks in the royal family are in any case much deeper than expected," explains the presenter and royal expert in an interview with the news agency spot on news.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan surprise with some shocking statements. Did you expect so much openness?
Mareile Höppner: Absolutely. Another way could not be assumed. How big the worries and accusations of the two are, however, was surprising and probably also explains the global quake after this interview. It is an openly formulated criticism of the royal family. With a sharpness that has not been seen since Diana. This interview will and must have consequences. For all sides. In any case, the cracks in the royal family are much deeper than expected.
Isn't Archie really just not a prince because of his potentially darker skin color? At the time of the birth it was still said that the two would consciously forego all titles for their son so that he could grow up normally?
Höppner: That is probably the most critical point in the interview. Mutually. Because Harry and Meghan do not seem comprehensible in every point. As far as the desire for peace and privacy is concerned, they were decisive in the demand. The accusation of racism against the royal family is of course massive. This affects a society like Great Britain, which is multinational, in a critical, sensitive core. This will trigger a tremor and the royal family, which otherwise follows the well-known strategy – keep quiet and hold out – will now be forced to comment on these allegations. It is important that the couple's criticism is not directed at the Queen, both speak of a good relationship there. So what – this is how it can be interpreted, making Prince Charles and his advisory staff responsible. Which is also a tough blow. This interview is also a generational dispute. The young do it differently than the old. This is the case in many families, but everyone looks here. It will be exciting to see how the palace responds to the demand for Archie's future. They both seem to be on a different course and therefore they want rights and royal duties for their son.
Do you think the palace will respond to this or other allegations?
Höppner: Normally, the Queen has always done well with just smiling and persevering. Due to major unrest and many political changes, she has always managed the company, as she calls work for the Krone, well and safely. Only Diana shook this course back then and the Queen had to accept it and take Diana's popularity and the power of her words seriously. And even more the great sympathy for her death. Otherwise, whatever should remain in the castle. Now the Queen could be forced to speak out again. Because this is not about gossip alone. It is about serious racism allegations and a woman who speaks of suicidal thoughts, that has such an emotional explosive power that the Queen will probably not be amused, but must act.
Meghan's suicidal thoughts inevitably bring back memories of Princess Diana …
Höppner: The legacy of Diana seemed to float a little over the whole interview, who would have liked to see what her son was doing with a smile. Harry, who was always much more Diana than William, quoted his mother's suffering. And he went much further, he blamed his father. Never before have the sons, in all their grief, actively opposed their father and the decision to leave Diana. This is the first time that has happened. And it is probably not for nothing that Meghan sought the same public path with this interview as Diana did back then. She knew that if I wanted to force the royal family to act, it would only be this way. And silence was evidently not their goal. Meghan grew up too self-determined for that. Unlike Diana, who had to learn this side painfully.
In contrast to Diana, shouldn't Meghan have known what she was getting into with her wedding?
Höppner: Nobody who was not born into the royal family has a clue of what it really means to cope with this type of task. Meghan was certainly a television star, but she was never as determined from the outside as she was at Harry's side. Certainly you could have guessed a lot. But she is a young woman, she wanted to live and fell in love. And, as we now know, she didn't like this world inside from the first moment. And Harry only had one thing in mind, fate shouldn't repeat itself. He wanted to protect his wife. Here two have found each other with a great idea of freedom and this does not fit into the narrow palace walls. Then why the whole wedding? This millionaire celebration, with prominent guests from the show and politics, with cups and cookies that adorned your picture? Meghan probably had the impression that she could not leave this machine. But she will have to put up with the fact that there are voices who interpret this as calculating to this day. According to the motto: The main thing is that I have the prince and then we'll see.
What can we expect from Harry and Meghan in the next few weeks and months?
Höppner: This interview will probably only be a prelude. You will certainly hear and see a lot from the two of them. And then it will also show what is really behind the choice of your new home. Whether Harry will miss more than the British tea hour at some point remains to be seen, but one could imagine. As closely as he was connected to British life and the military, he will probably be missing a lot at some point.
What do you think Meghan and Harry did each other with this interview?
Höppner: This interview has a number of demands. It's not just the reckoning of an unhappy woman with the dusty notions of a palace. This interview is an indictment and should be understood as such. Whether Meghan and Harry are condemned as regicide or put on a pedestal as an example of emancipation, self-determination and courage, that will probably show in the future. In any case, this interview sparked a broad discussion and that cannot do any harm to a royal family that has survived in the same waters for generations. Who wins or loses in the end will be revealed.
Will we ever see them together with the British royal family again?
Höppner: That is why the royal family will make an urgent effort. Because after this interview, calm will only return when everyone comes to the balcony of Buckingham Palace, waving in a peaceful and friendly manner. And then the whole world will watch and know how to interpret every hint. This interview brought a lot of gossip for the future to the whole royal family. A palace today lives from this, but it can also be harmful.