Meghan Markle Wants The Royal Family To 'Unite As One' In The Wake Of Prince Philip's Death, She Is 'Willing To Forgive & Move Forward,' Friend Says
Apr. 13 2021, Published 10:09 a.m. ET
After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey made many members of the royal family angry, it looks like the Duchess finally wants to call a truce.
While chatting with Winfrey, the former actress, 39, made several bombshells, including that someone in the royal family was "concerned" over Archie's skin color, in addition to not feeling supported by the firm.
"Meghan said it's during these times when family should come together, put their differences aside and unite as one," a friend told the Daily Mail. "She said this is what Prince Philip would want and that she's willing to forgive and move forward."
Harry, 36, arrived in the U.K. on Monday, April 12 — five days before his grandfather's funeral, which will be on Saturday, April 17. Harry previously shared that his relationships with his brother, Prince William, and his father, Prince Charles, have been strained over the past year.
Since Meghan is pregnant with baby No. 2, she is staying behind, so it's the perfect opportunity for Harry to fix things with his brood.
"Meghan said her main concern right now is supporting Harry. She said she left it up to him as to whether or not she would attend the funeral," an insider said. "[Meghan's mom] Doria [Ragland] insisted that Meghan stay behind and support Harry from afar. Like Harry, Doria is very protective of Meghan and doesn't want to see her putting her own health at risk. Stress is the last thing Meghan needs right now."
"Meghan said attending or not attending Prince Philip's funeral isn't going to change her relationship with the Queen. She said the Queen understands her absence and would want her to stay safe and healthy for the baby," the friend said. "Meghan said this is the opportune time for Henry to mend his relationship with his brother and his dad. She doesn't need to be there for that."
However, it seems like things might be off to a rocky start when Harry returned home. "He will be quarantined at Windsor Castle since they have a few spare rooms. Harry will not be staying with his brother or his father," a source exclusively told The Royal Observer.
While people are hoping William and Harry make up, royal biographer Andrew Morton is nervous that that is all people will be focusing over the next few days — especially at the funeral.
“Everybody watching the funeral will want to see some sort of reconciliation between William and Harry, and Harry and his father," Morton said. "The one thing you hope is that it doesn’t overshadow tributes to Prince Philip. If everybody’s looking at what the lip readers are saying about the interaction between Harry and William, it will undercut the tributes to Prince Philip.”
