Oprah Takes a Subtle Swipe at Meghan and Harry’s Sussex Surname After Infamous Interview

While one would expect Winfrey to have a soft corner for the Sussexes, as they chose her to tell their story, she recently took a subtle jibe at them.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey created history for its first-of-its-kind public tirade against the royal family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not hold back, detailing their alleged mistreatment to Winfrey, who also happens to be their Montecito neighbor and friend. While one would expect Winfrey to have a soft corner for the Sussexes, as they chose her to tell their story, she recently poked fun at their surname. During a podcast interview with Kelly Ripa on July 16, the veteran host dramatically mispronounced the word 'Sussex' in a subtle ribbing.

The talk show mogul appeared on Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa, where Ripa asked her if she would enjoy receiving baby chicks as a gift. As reported by the Daily Mail, Winfrey quipped, "I'd run them straight over to the Sussexes," while mispronouncing the name by adding extra 'xesssses' at the end. She then playfully repeated the mispronunciation once again for fun. Discussing baby chicks, she recalled a funny anecdote about rushing to the couple’s aid on Easter after they discovered ducklings in their backyard but had nowhere to keep them.

Recalling the bizarre incident, she imitated Harry's British accent and claimed he said, "Sorry to bother you, O, but we have a duck problem here." She revealed that the Duke offered to keep the ducks at her pond. She continued, "I said, 'Wait until I can get the kids to come down to the pond so they can see you put the ducks in the pond.' And he goes, 'No, we’re coming right away, we’re coming over!'" Winfrey dished on the chaos that ensued after Harry opened the door, just to have a mama duck fly out. She spilled, "We’re chasing the mama duck who is in the front yard and has flown to the other side...Harry’s running after, Meghan gets out, she’s running after, chasing the mom and trying to get her to come back to her ducks."

This explains a reel Markle shared on Instagram earlier in April, which showed her lovingly staring at a pair of ducks outside her Montecito mansion. She captioned the post, "Wishing you a Happy Easter full of love…and surprises!" Winfrey and the Sussexes have been long-time friends, and the talk show host also attended their royal wedding in 2018. 2 years later, when Harry and Markle stepped down as senior royals, Winfrey conducted their first interview after their move to California. 

While Winfrey poked fun at the couple's surname, it all seemed to be a harmless ribbing. The talk show host has also served as a mentor to Markle in her entrepreneurial journey. As reported by InStyle, Markle said on The Jamie Kern Lima Show podcast, "Oprah, who I know as a mentor and friend to you—same for me—she was the one that said, 'There are tons of things you could put your name on. But for you and how you like to show up for people, once you figure out how to encapsulate your essence, then you’ll know.'"