As royal family responds to Megxit, is this the beginning of the end?

Britain’s monarchy responded on Tuesday after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sparked a crisis by alleging a family member made a racist remark about the colour of their son’s skin and that Markle was alienated to the point of contemplating suicide.

“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” the statement read. “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.”

“Worst Royal Crisis in 85 Years,” read the front page of the Daily Mirror newspaper, while the Daily Mail’s cover asked: “What Have They Done?”, and The Sun columnist Trevor Kavanagh questioned if the interview meant the end for the royal family.

“It could hardly be more damaging to the royal family, not least because there is little it can do to defend itself,” The Times said in a lead article, under the title “Royal Attack”.

“The key to the monarchy’s survival over the centuries has been its ability to adapt to the needs of the times. It needs to adapt again,” The Times said.

Opponents of the monarchy said the allegations made by Meghan and Harry showed just how rotten the institution was, though some royal supporters cast Meghan as a publicity seeker with an eye on Hollywood stardom.

But the gravity of the claims raised uncomfortable questions about how the British monarchy, which survived centuries of revolution that toppled their cousins, could function in a meritocratic world.

It is obviously damaging because anything that tarnishes their reputation is bad. But I think overall it’s a strong institution, it’s a good institution. It has served Britain extremely well over the decades. I hope that it will survive this.

—  Royal commentator Penny Junor

Meghan, 39, whose mother is black and father is white, said she had been naive before she married into royalty in 2018, but ended up having suicidal thoughts and considering self harm after pleading for help, but getting none.

Meghan said her son, Archie, who turns two in May, had been denied the title of prince because there were concerns within the royal family “about how dark his skin might be when he’s born”.

She declined to say who had voiced such concerns, as did Harry. Winfrey later told CBS that Harry had said it was not the queen or her 99-year-old husband, Philip, who has been in hospital for three weeks while the crisis unfolds.

Harry said his family had cut them off financially and Prince Charles had refused to take his calls at one point.

“The age of deference, already under strain, will vanish with her passing,” Kavanagh wrote, questioning whether the royal family would survive beyond the broadly popular queen.

Others pointed to the institution surviving crises in the past, not least the death of Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

“It is obviously damaging because anything that tarnishes their reputation is bad,” royal commentator Penny Junor said. “But I think overall it’s a strong institution, it’s a good institution. It has served Britain extremely well over the decades. I hope that it will survive this.”

— Reuters