Prince William on Thursday defended the British royal family after his younger brother Harry and wife Meghan accused them of racism in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. "We're very much not a racist family," William, 38, told reporters during a visit to a multi-racial school in a deprived area of east London, according to news agency AFP.
Prince William's "not racist" comment drew Twitter's ire amid a wave of public sympathy in favour of Harry and Meghan, who earlier this week said that a member of the family had raised concerns about "how dark" the colour of their unborn baby's skin would be. In the explosive interview, Meghan, who became the target of sexist and racist coverage in British tabloids after marrying Prince Harry, also said that negative press drove her to the point where she began having suicidal thoughts.
Twitter users were quick to remind Prince William of his family's colonial past and troubled history with racism:
Prince William - royal family 'not racist'
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) March 11, 2021
Anyway, here's the brooch Princess Michael of Kent wore to a family banquet attended by Meghan Markle pic.twitter.com/KEtGVWlRKg
Prince William: Royal Family aren't racist Royal family: pic.twitter.com/WEQtEZSgiv
— BOASBW (@BlackStrugglr) March 11, 2021
Prince William says royal family ‘very much not a racist family', but recollections may vary pic.twitter.com/k3900IqiEJ
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) March 11, 2021
Some dug out a widely-criticised photo of Prince William being carried on an elevated chair in Tuvalu
Prince William= “I'm not racist”
— Tariq Nasheed ???????? (@tariqnasheed) March 11, 2021
Also Prince William pic.twitter.com/fHpt44Gb7Y
William: we are very much not a racist family.
— machine gun Kele (@kelechnekoff) March 11, 2021
Also William: pic.twitter.com/pgF3UB1xnc
Others criticised him for not speaking out in support of Meghan
So Prince william can speak out to defend the royal family by saying “we're not a racist family” but he can't speak out in defence of the ONE member of the family actually subjected to racism? ????
— Em Ford (@mypaleskinblog) March 11, 2021
When William says "we are very much not racist" or whatever and is then strategically photographed with a Black woman nearby, it's just part of the whole orchestration of Kensington Palace. It's also nothing new.
— STEMLORD (@upulie) March 12, 2021
Why do people bother asking racists if they're racist?
— Wagatwe Wanjuki ???????? ???????? (@wagatwe) March 11, 2021
1) It's not up for debate; and
2) it's not like William would say "yes, yes we are" https://t.co/sn7rYAhagn
Many Twitter user also came out in support of the Duke of Cambridge
In this instance my sympathy lies with William . If l were him l would be so hurt by the lies that were perpetuated l would be totally unable to speak to him ever again.
— Kate Buckfast (@Buckfield777) March 11, 2021
I believe William. The media is just trying to spin up such nonsense to monetize all of this false story
— Ken (@FuryofKahless) March 11, 2021
I don't know, but I don't believe Meghan and Harry. Because if the Royal family were racist they could sabotage the marriage in any way from the start.
— Illuminate???? (@Moscato1V) March 11, 2021
In the end, they are a royal family and they have powerful influence
Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday responded to the explosive racism claims from her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, saying that the issue was "concerning" but adding that "recollections may vary."
"The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan," she said in a statement.
"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.
"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members."
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