Beautiful Virgin Islands


Surprise Surprise? Royal family accused of being racist by R. Meghan Markle

In a recent shocking ‘tell all’ interview with Oprah G. Winfrey, Duchess of Sussex Rachel Meghan Markle accused the British royal family of being racist and had "concerns and conversations" while she was pregnant about how dark her son's skin would be.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, born on May 2019, is the son of Prince Harry and Meghan and is seventh in the line of succession to the British throne.

The concern of racism is one of many bombshell revelations made during the interview with Markle and Prince Harry. The couple, who announced their intention to step back from the royal family in January 2020, spoke with Winfrey about their time at Kensington Palace and the family rift that has made headlines over the past few years.

"In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, we have in tandem the conversation of he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title, and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born," she said in the interview, which aired on CBS on Sunday, March 7, 2021, pulling in some 17.1 million viewers and setting a CBS yearly record.

The couple refused to name anyone involved in the discussions.

"I think that would be very damaging to them," Markle said.

"That conversation I'm never going to share," Prince Harry later said when he joined the interview. "At the time, it was awkward. I was a bit shocked."

Winfrey clarified in a new interview on “CBS This Morning” on Monday, March 8, 2021, that the racist “concerns” raised by members of the royal family about Archie’s skin color prior to his birth were not made by either Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Racism a 'large part" why couple left UK


Meanwhile, Prince Harry disclosed that racism was a 'large part' of why the couple left the UK and traveled abroad. The Duke added that a friend who is close to British editors warned him that the couple would face racist treatment.

"Please don't do this with the media. They will destroy your life," the friend said, according to Harry.

"He said, 'You need to understand that the UK is very bigoted.' I stopped and I said, 'The UK is not bigoted, the UK press is bigoted, specifically the tabloids, is that what you mean?'" Harry said.

The friend insisted that the UK was bigoted, which Harry believed was untrue.

"But unfortunately, if the source of information is inherently corrupt or racist or biased, then that filters out to the rest of society," said Harry.

Racist Gus?


The revelation is of interest to some in the Virgin Islands, which population is majority of Blacks or persons of African descent.

It was in October 2020 that ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert had upset many when he bluntly stated that the Virgin Islands should not look forward to reparations for slavery as it was not a policy of the UK Government.

Further, Mr Jaspert found himself under more criticism when he opined that the VI should not seek to rename landmarks currently carrying names of persons who engaged or facilitated the slave trade and engaged in brutal acts against humanity.

The UK, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, had said it supported the statements of Mr Jaspert.

Many had labeled the Governor and UK as racist and had called for an apology from Mr Jaspert. He never apologised.

New Governor John J. Rankin, CMG said there is ‘no place for racism’ anywhere around the world and as Governor, he believes in equal opportunity and will fight discrimination wherever he can.


What is the new Governor’s position?


New Governor John J. Rankin, CMG was asked how he, as a representative of the Queen would respond to the allegations of racism expressed by Markle, for the benefit of those following this matter in the VI.

Mr Rankin responded with a condemnation of racism.

“There is no place for racism anywhere around the world. As Governor, I believe in equal opportunity and will fight discrimination wherever I can.”

Mr Rankin also said: “Like the UK Prime Minister, I’ve always had the highest admiration for the Queen and the unifying role that she plays in the UK, and across the commonwealth. As for all other matters to do with the Royal Family, I won’t be drawn in to commenting on personal matters.”

More bombshells


Meanwhile, other bombshells from the interview with Winfrey included that Prince Harry and Markle married secretly in their backyard three days before the royal wedding; Markle had suicidal thoughts during royal life; Harry said Prince Charles once stopped taking his calls and the family cut him off financially; Markle was "silenced" by the royal family and directed to never comment on false reports, and the royal family wanted Markle to keep acting after marrying Harry to support them financially.

The popular interview is being licensed to air in the UK today, Monday, March 8, 2021.

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