Frost v Nixon, who?
We’re only a mere week away from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s so-called “tell-all” interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The 90 minute special is set to air in the States next Sunday, and although we don’t know a whole lot about the contents of the interview just yet, we’d be letting the side down if we didn’t do at least a little bit of speculating before the big day.
So, here’s everything we know so far about Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah.
When is it airing?
The interview will air on US television on CBS Television Network at 8pm EST on Sunday, March 7.
As it stands, no UK or Irish TV station has bought the rights to the interview yet. This is most likely to do with a supposed bidding war between stations and not from lack of interest.
Nevertheless, it’s highly likely that clips will be dominating social media early on the morning of Monday, March 8, so you needn’t worry about missing all that goes down.
Coincidentally, the interview will also air on the same day as the royal family’s TV special for Commonwealth Day. In lieu of a real life celebration due to coronavirus, the family have opted to air a special shot inside Buckingham Palace featuring a pre-recorded address from the Queen and messages from Prince William, Kate Middleton, and others.
What will Harry and Meghan discuss?
Although the details of the interview have remained very much unwraps, given the significance of Harry and Meghan’s move away from the royal family, the criticism Meghan has been subjected to in UK media, and the simple fact that the interview is being conducted on US soil, we can probably hazard a guess as to where the conversation will lead.
The interview may be described as “tell-all” – and although it’s likely we’re going to hear more from Harry and Meghan than ever before – it’s worth keeping in mind that the couple are still public figures, fresh from the rigidness of royal life, and still very much the subject of much vitriol online and elsewhere.
“Tell-all” it might be, but it won’t be “tell-everything.” Harry and Meghan may have separated themselves from royal life, but they are not entirely separated from the family itself – and chances are, they never will be.
Rumours of apparent bad blood between the Sussexes and the Cambridges have been circulating for years at this point, and irrespective of any truth behind them, it’s unlikely that Prince Harry is eager to throw brother William under any busses, proverbial or not.
Here are a series of talking points that Harry and Meghan are entirely likely to discuss during their chat with Oprah:
- Their decision to leave the royal family
- Their son, Archie, and newly announced newborn baby
- Celebrity culture
- Charity work
- Suits, maybe
- Princess Diana
- The state of UK tabloid media
- Meghan’s recent miscarriage
- Their relationships with the remaining members of the royal family
- Prince Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (just kidding)
One thing we do know for sure though, is that the couple will not be discussing their recent loss of royal titles. In fact, according to reports, part of the interview will need to be re-edited as it was shot before this occurred.
A source told The Mirror: “When the Duke and Duchess spoke to Oprah, it was never envisaged they would have their patronages taken away. They didn’t see it coming and spoke as they still had roles to play.
“Now, however, other than their titles, they are to have no role in royal life – a point producers know was not discussed when Winfrey spoke to them.”
What has the royal family’s reaction been ahead of the interview?
Unsurprisingly, the Queen is not delighted. Although the couples’ loss of their royal titles cannot be directly linked to their interview with Oprah, it’s hard not to conjure a correlation between the two events.
As well as this, Prince William and Kate Middleton are reportedly “aghast” (yes, that was the word used by a royal source) by the couples’ decision to do the interview.
They told US Weekly: “It’s just beyond the pale for William and Kate, especially in light of the dreadful timing with [Prince] Philip in the hospital. They are utterly aghast.”
Elsewhere, other royals have in the past seemed quite supportive of Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave the royal life behind.
Last year, Princess Anne said that she didn’t blame the couple for stepping away from their duties. In fact, she agreed that it would make life “easier” for them.
“I think it was probably easier for them, and I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles,” said Anne. “So I think that was probably the right thing to do.”
Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah airs on US TV on March 7.
