Private jets, taxpayer funded…the 10 questions Oprah didn’t ask Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during interview
OPRAH Winfrey landed the interview of the century as Meghan and Harry poured poison on the monarchy for two gripping hours of bombshell claims.
But what should the US TV chat show queen have asked if she had been willing to place them under real scrutiny? Here are ten questions a more impartial inquisitor might have asked — and the tell-tale facts the couple chose not to reveal:
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MEGHAN and Harry said they quit the UK partly because they did not feel Archie was safe — but why should British taxpayers pay for security if you are not working as royals or living in the UK?
ANALYSIS: It was clear that as long as Harry was a senior royal, his wife and all children would be covered around-the-clock by royal protection squad officers.
Prince Charles was reported to have been ready to give £2million for security costs in California.
HARRY cut his multi-million deals with Netflix and Spotify to pay his way after being financially cut adrift by the royals. But is it not true he and Meghan are wealthy?
ANALYSIS: From the age of 21, Harry has received £324,000 a year from Princess Diana’s estate.
He also received £7.2million from that source on his 30th birthday while Meghan has an estimated net worth of £3.6million from acting.
DOES it jar to use royal titles to promote your brands while you say you want to be private citizens?
ANALYSIS: Meghan told Oprah she cares little for “grandeur” and her husband says he prefers to be known as Harry.
But his princely status will have inevitably played a part in the £100million Netflix content deal.
And the couple’s royal titles gets headline billing on the site of their not-for-profit foundation Archewell.
MEGHAN claimed her passport was taken from her by aides and she was a virtual prisoner at Frogmore House, Windsor. But did she not continue to enjoy a lavish social life and private trips abroad?
ANALYSIS: She was spotted out on numerous occasions near their former Kensington Palace home.
Her most lavish away-day outing was a private jet flight to a baby shower party in New York in 2019, that reportedly cost £330,000.
She also took a private jet to Sir Elton John’s holiday home on French Riviera in 2019.
DID you raise the alleged racist baby question with anyone within the family at the time — and can you explain why you tell different stories about the timing?
ANALYSIS: Meghan made much of Harry’s deeply offensive discussions with a mystery royal about her unborn baby’s skin colour but she admitted she heard no such talk herself.
Harry referred specifically to “that conversation” suggesting there was just one time when hurtful remarks upset him.
DID Meghan know that Archie was not entitled to be a prince from birth?
ANALYSIS: Meghan gave the impression the title was withheld from Archie — or would be — over the colour of his skin.
But the couple’s staff made it clear they did not want a title and preferred him as a private citizen.
DO you not appreciate criticism of you, such as flying on jets while campaigning for eco issues?
ANALYSIS: The pair stated on their Instagram account in 2019 that they would spend that month working to raise climate change awareness.
Two months later, flight logs revealed Harry used private jets for six out of ten flights since marrying despite claiming to travel commercial “99 per cent” of the time.
MEGHAN told Oprah that she “just didn’t want to be alive any more” and said Palace officials would not help. But could your mother Doria or Harry not have found you help?
ANALYSIS: Meghan could have gone to a GP or private treatment, as for any other health condition.
Her mother has qualifications and experience as a social worker for three years in California.
Harry, who had therapy, told Oprah he was ashamed of admitting that Meghan needed help but he launched a mental health campaign Heads Together and would have contacts there.
WHY did Meghan and Harry get through three nannies in six weeks in the summer of 2019? And how do you account for the high turnover of staff in your household?
ANALYSIS: In September 2019, Archie had his third nanny in six weeks. In November 2018, Meghan’s PA Melissa Touabti quit amid reports she was reduced to tears.
The couple’s private secretary Samantha Cohen resigned after 17 years with the royals. And in 2019, Meghan’s bodyguard departed followed by private secretaries Amy Pickerill and Heather Wong.
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MEGHAN said she never Googled Harry and knew little of royal life when joining The Firm. Does she really expect us to believe that?
ANALYSIS: Friends of the Duchess have revealed she was fascinated by the royals.
Ninaki Priddy, her maid of honour at her first wedding to Trevor Engelson, said: “She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0.”
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