A former aide to Queen Elizabeth II has spoken out about Meghan Markle’s allegations of racism within the royal family, saying the claims left her deeply surprised.
Speaking in the Channel 5 documentary Harry & Meghan: Has America Had Enough?, former royal press secretary Ailsa Anderson reflected on Meghan’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which the Duchess of Sussex raised concerns about conversations regarding her son Archie’s skin color before his birth.
Anderson, who worked for the late Queen for nearly 13 years, said the allegations did not align with her own experience inside the royal household.
“This was not the monarch I recognised,” she said, adding that she had never heard Queen Elizabeth II make comments of a racial nature, either publicly or privately.
“I was dumbfounded. I really was,” Anderson said in the documentary.
During the widely watched Oprah interview, Meghan claimed there were discussions within royal circles about how dark her unborn child’s skin might be. She also said concerns were raised about security and royal titles for Archie.
The interview sparked global debate and intensified tensions between the Sussexes and the royal family.
Despite her disagreement with Meghan’s characterization of the institution, Anderson spoke positively about Prince Harry, describing her interactions with him as warm and kind.
In previous comments, she said she has only fond memories of working with the Duke of Sussex and remembered him as engaging and considerate.
The latest remarks come as public interest in the relationship between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the royal family continues years after the explosive Oprah interview, which remains one of the most discussed moments in modern royal history.