Meghan Markle: It Was Clear.

What drove Ms. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the first interracial British royal couple, to exit the family duties? Was it just family disagreements or was it implicit racism? To understand, I was among the millions who tuned in to watch their interview by Ms. Oprah Winfrey on CBS. This Fox News piece is a reasonable summary of what we learnt and did not from the interview.

It was clear. That is how Ms. Markle started her responses whenever Ms. Winfrey pressed her to confirm her comments, such as those concerning her mental health struggles or her son Archie.

The British royal family has a carefully managed business front that Ms. Markle calls “the firm.” Acting on behalf of the family, the firm aims to protect the brand. It controls royal events and decides what to highlight and what to cover up. It was clear that the firm did not envision Ms. Markle as the natural ambassador of color to the British Commonwealth countries with diverse populations, even after her successful trip to Australia filled with the adulation of the public, evoking images of Princess Diana’s trip to Australia. It was also clear that the firm let untrue rumors about her, such as one that she made Princess Kate cry, fester, turning the unusual royal asset Ms. Markle was into a liability. Ms. Markle’s mental health struggles were treated as unwelcome news, ignored, and suppressed. Was the firm just incompetent?

Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Ms. Markle, did not get a royal title at birth. It is not required the children of Prince Harry or his older brother Prince William to be given titles. Queen Elizabeth made an exception for the children of Prince William who is in direct line to the throne. Prince Charles, who is the first in line to the throne and the father of Prince Harry and Prince William, has a stated desire to shrink the monarchy. Were the royals just oblivious to what it would mean to deny a title to the first interracial child in the family?

Ms. Markle mentioned concerns about the color of Archie’s skin and deferred to Prince Harry to elaborate. It was clear that anything Ms. Markle would have said on the matter would have been seen as her misunderstanding. So it was on Prince Harry. His recollection of his conversations was clear. Did a biracial child become a liability instead of a poster child of modern times?

I hope and wish there is a second chance for the British family to come together. The royal silence around race cannot endure for we need honest conversations to overcome the lasting influences of racism on both sides of the Atlantic.