Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's popularity falls to lowest level EVER after Oprah interview - as unwavering support for the Queen retains her spot as Britain's most popular Royal

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's popularity ratings have fallen to their lowest levels ever after their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, according to a new poll.

The couple's popularity has plummeted in the wake of the explosive broadcast, in which the couple made accusations of racism within the Royal Family.

But the British public appear to have reacted negatively to the couple's interview, with Prince Harry's popularity plunging 15 points since the broadcast, according to a new YouGov survey.

Meghan's popularity has also sunk by 13 points in the last 10 days, figures from the poll show.

Meanwhile, in a sign of unwavering show of support, Britons continue to be most fond of the Queen, with four in five people (80 per cent) liking her, the survey says.

Prince William and his wife Kate also remain very popular, according to the poll, with about three quarters of Britons giving them favourable reviews. 

Prince Andrew remains by far the most unpopular royal, with an 82 per cent negative view, according to the poll. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's popularity ratings have fallen to its lowest level ever after their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, according to a new poll

According to the data, of more than 1,600 Britons between March 10 and 11, public opinion of Prince Harry is now negative - having previously been positive prior to Sunday night's world exclusive interview.

The figures show 45 per cent of Britons now have a positive opinion of Prince Harry, while 48 per cent regard him negatively.

This gives the once popular prince a net score of -3 in terms of popularity -  a drop of 15 points from March 2.

Meanwhile, Meghan’s popularity scores have also fallen considerably.

Currently, only a third (31 per cent) of Britons have a positive opinion of the Duchess of Sussex, while more than (58 per cent) view her negatively.

This means she has a net popularity rating of -27, down from -14 just over a week ago.

Though the Queen's popularity remains unwavering, Harry's father, Prince Charles, has seen a fall in popularity since the interview, according to YouGov. 

Two in five people (42 per cent) now have a negative opinion of the Prince of Wales – up from 36 per cent on March 2. 

The other surprise statistics comes in the form of how many Britons now want an elected head of stated - and the age groups they come from.

Following the interview, more 18-24 year olds want an elected head of state - similar to in France - than want to keep the monarchy.

Interestingly, however, since October there has been a rise in over 65s now wanting an elected head of state.

Generally, Britons are more likely to want an elected head of state now than they were in October, according to the poll. 

It comes as the Queen and Prince Charles this week backed Prince William after he insisted the royals were 'very much not a racist family'.

William on Thursday became the first senior Windsor to address directly the string of allegations made by Harry and Meghan in their explosive Oprah interview.

Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, the official homes of the Queen and the Prince of Wales, were both said to be supportive of William's solo intervention.

The Queen and Prince Charles (pictured together in 2019) have backed Prince William after he spoke out to insist the Royal Family are 'very much not a racist family' as the fallout from Harry and Meghan's bombshell interview continues to grow

Pictured: Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge gesture during a visit to School21 following its re-opening after the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in east London on March 11, 2021

The prince was speaking as he and his wife Kate visited a school in east London to support a youth mental health support service.

Aides had initially insisted the couple would not answer questions about the interview because it would 'not be appropriate' in a school setting.

His firm rebuttal came after Buckingham Palace issued a statement on Tuesday on behalf of the Queen expressing the family's sadness at learning the 'full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan'.

The statement said the issues they raised, particularly that of race, were very 'concerning'.

But it made clear that the Queen and other senior royals were keen to stand their ground, adding: 'While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.' 

Harry and Meghan raised claims of racism within the royal family during the Oprah interview. 

They claimed they had experienced open racism from family members and staff, and alleged a member of Harry's family even expressed 'concern' about 'how dark' their unborn son would be.

They also said the family had been uniquely unsupportive of the pressures they were going through, leaving Meghan feeling suicidal and fuelling their decision to quit the UK.

Harry said he felt let down by his father, who, he claimed, refused to take his calls at one point, and admitted there was still a gulf between him and his brother.

Prince William speaks with a child during a visit to School 21 following its re-opening after the easing of coronavirus disease lockdown restrictions in east London, March 11, 2021

The Duke of Cambridge plays with a child in the playground during a visit to School21 in Stratford, east London, this morning 

Their accusations have left the Royal Family reeling and prompted a huge debate about the racism both within the monarchy and the UK more generally. 

The fact that William was asked about the row on an official engagement shows what unprecedented territory the Royal Family has found itself in.

Buckingham Palace has seen its every word and action under scrutiny, with the claims prompting debate about the future of the monarchy in Commonwealth realms such as Australia, where the Queen is still head of state.

While it was clear yesterday that William had not wanted to be put in the position of discussing the falling-out with his brother and sister-in-law, neither had he wanted to be seen dodging the question. 

He may even have wanted to get his personal rebuttal off his chest.

Pictured: Call of duty: Child offers a high five to Kate, who wore a pink coat and matching mask on the visit to School 21 in east London

Kate wore a pink £389 Max & Co coat and a £65 pink Boden jumper during the visit, where she was seen speaking to schoolchildren 

The couple were at the school to mark children's return to classes and the rollout to secondary schools of a mental health project for pupils which Kate launched in primary schools in 2018

William and Kate were on Thursday visiting School 21 in Stratford to mark the return to classes and the rollout to secondary schools of a mental health project for pupils that Kate launched in primary schools in 2018.

The course materials have been accessed a million times since the launch three years ago.

Race claims and a battle of Wills 

Pictured: Oprah Winfrey interviews Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on A CBS Primetime Special premiering on CBS on March 7

These are the bombshell race allegations the Sussexes made in their Oprah Winfrey interview – triggering William's frustrated reply to a reporter yesterday.

• Discussing why baby Archie is not a prince, Meghan spoke of 'concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born'. 
• Asked if there were concerns her child would be 'too brown' and it would be a problem, Meghan told Miss Winfrey: 'If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one.'
• Harry said none of his relatives spoke out in support of Meghan after stories with 'colonial undertones' were published, adding: 'That hurts.'
• In an extra clip that did not make the final two-hour cut, Miss Winfrey asked Harry if they left the UK due to racism and he said: 'It was a large part of it.'
• In additional footage, Meghan said the Press treated her worse than Kate, saying: 'If a member of [Harry's] family would comfortably say 'we've all had to deal with things that are rude'...rude and racist are not the same.' 

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During the visit William and Kate talked to teachers about the benefits for pupils. They were welcomed by co-head teachers, Stephanie Shaldas and Edmund Coogan, and were introduced to some of the youngest pupils at a play session.

Kate, in a pink Max & Co coat, knelt down to talk to children in a pop-up cafe, while William helped a girl building a wall in the playground's construction area. 

Later he sat on a raised floor talking to a little boy who was brandishing a clipboard as Kate went to a water play area and then joined children in a sand pit hunting for treasure.

'Is it fun to be back with all your friends?' she asked them.

Kate and William then joined teachers and staff involved in the Mentally Healthy Schools project to talk about its aims and impact on children.

They sat in a circle outside the school because of Covid restrictions. After the television reporter's questions were fired at William, it looked as though he may have apologised to Miss Shaldas for bringing his family's traumas into the playground.

Andrea Silvain, a deputy head at the 1,200-pupil free school, said the last year of lockdowns had brought teachers and parents closer together and families had appreciated the help that the mental health website had given.

'We've had some very positive feedback from parents,' she said.

'People have been through this lockdown together,' William replied.

Children at School 21, which educates around 1,200 pupils aged from four to 18, will be given access to lessons on issues such as anxiety and depression.

Ironically, the lessons are on a website financed from an initial £800,000 grant from the then royal foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Kate has championed the idea of early intervention by experts to help children struggling with mental health problems.

Research shows that one in ten youngsters suffers from some kind of mental health issue, often because of problems in the family such as abuse, addiction, neglect or marital breakdown.

On Thursday, Duchess of Sussex's biographer has published an email in which she demands aides release a statement claiming Kate drove her to tears at a bridesmaid dress fitting.

Omid Scobie wrote yesterday that Harry and Meghan's exasperation with officials came to a head when Kensington Palace 'urgently requested' Harry join forces with them in co-signing a statement critical of a newspaper report.

He said the palace wanted him to deny an 'offensive' article in The Times in January 2020 which claimed that Prince William had 'constantly bullied' the Sussexes before they decided to quit royal duties.

He writes that a source revealed Meghan emailed an aide: 'Well, if we're just throwing any statement out there now, then perhaps KP can finally set the record straight about me [not making Kate cry].' He then says she asks why her side of the story was never considered important to anyone at the palace.

Mr Scobie alleged Meghan emailed a royal aide asking if Kensington Palace could 'set the record straight' about claims she made Kate cry during a children's dress fitting in 2018

'But, as with many requests made by the couple, her suggestion was ignored,' he writes. 'The Duchess of Cambridge, she was told, should never be dragged into idle gossip.'

The article was written for the website of US magazine Harper's Bazaar.

The email was clearly a private one, sent by Meghan to only two or three of her most senior staff at most.

Its quoting in full raises the question of how it came into the author's possession and was it leaked by the Duchess of Sussex herself?

If not, then surely, critics asked yesterday, she would be complaining that a private email had been published without her knowledge.

The issue is one that has clearly irked Meghan for some time as she raised it in her interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday night.

The original story, published in a British broadsheet newspaper in 2018, claimed that Meghan had made Kate cry during a fitting for Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress, possibly in a row over whether she should wear tights.

Pictured: Kate Middleton during a visit to Stratford, east London today

In the programme Meghan says: 'The truth? The reverse happened. A few days before the wedding, she was upset about something – yes, the issue was correct, about the flower girl dresses – and it made me cry and it really hurt my feelings.'

She went on to claim that Kate apologised and brought her flowers and 'took accountability for it'.

But Meghan said that no one at the palace was willing to help her set the record straight, even when friends asked if they could dispute the story for her through the media.

'Everyone in the institution knew it wasn't true,' Meghan told Miss Winfrey, who asked: 'So why didn't somebody just say that?' Meghan replied: 'That's a good question.'

Mr Scobie, who co-authored the Sussexes' biography Finding Freedom, went on to accuse Buckingham Palace of 'failing to acknowledge racism' aimed at a mixed-raced senior royal and questioned the monarchy's commitment to the ethnically diverse Commonwealth.

And shockingly, Mr Scobie wrote: 'If it's not considered appropriate to acknowledge racism or racial ignorance when aimed at a mixed-raced senior royal, then how should the 54 countries of the Commonwealth and its predominantly black, brown, and mixed population feel about the realm's figurehead belonging to an institution that claims to celebrate 'diversity' but in practice appears to uphold white supremacy?'

Since the screening of the interview, a raft of close friends and supporters have been given permission to push their case on social media and over the airwaves.

Yesterday, Meghan's close friend Janina Gavankar firmly rejected the Queen's statement that 'recollections may vary' over the claims made by the Sussexes.    

The actress, who has known Meghan for 17 years, said: 'Though their recollections may vary, ours don't.'

She also said the duchess gave her backing before she appeared on TV - despite Meghan reportedly agreeing a period of silence to cool tensions with the Palace.  

Gavankar appeared on ITV's This Morning to insist the Sussexes were confident of their claims.

Janina Gavankar is pictured with Meghan Markle, whom she has been friends with for 17 years

She said: 'After reading this short statement that came out from Buckingham Palace today, I felt two things.

'One side, I thought: I am so thankful that they are finally acknowledging the experience.

'But on the other side, I am well aware that the family and the staff were well aware of the extent of it, and though their recollections may vary, ours don't, because we lived through it with them. There are many emails and texts to support that.' 

While Gavankar stressed she was not speaking on Meghan's behalf, she revealed she had talked to the duchess before being interviewed. 

Asked by presenter Phillip Schofield if she had spoken to Meghan about coming onto the show, she replied: 'Oh yes, absolutely, I talk to them of all the time.

'We watched the special together, actually. We're all happy that we are in a new era, we get to tell the truth.'   

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive for a visit to School21 in Stratford, east London, to promote a mental health initiative for children on a visit to a school

Oprah was left open-mouthed when Meghan and Harry recounted that a family member - not the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh - had raised concerns about how dark their unborn son Archie's skin tone might be.

There has been much speculation about which member of the royal family they were accusing of racism.

But during the interview the couple would not be drawn on who had deeply offended them.

ITV royal correspondent Chris Ship called today's comment 'unprecedented'.

He said: 'It's unprecedented for a senior royal to speak in this way.

'And shows the fight they now have on their hands to repair their reputation following Meghan and Harry's explosive claims.

'Remember the Queen's statement said 'recollections may vary'.'

Trevor Phillips says that Oprah should have asked Harry and Meghan about the prince's own past behaviour that could be considered racially insensitive.   

In 2005, a young Harry had caused a stir, at just 20 years old, he dressed up for a party in a Nazi uniform, complete with swastika armband, sparking condemnation from politicians and Jewish human rights organisations. 

After pictures of the outfit were published, an apology was issued on behalf of Harry for his 'poor choice of costume'. 

In 2006 Prince Harry was recorded calling an Asian army colleague a 'P**i' - and the footage was published three years later.

Harry said he had used the term without malice after the recording, taken in 2006, was released. 

He was sent on an Army diversity course after the incident, where he referred to Ahmed Raza Khan as 'our little P**i' friend. 

The prince apologised for any offence caused by the incident and Captain Khan, who was serving in the Pakistan army, insisted he took no offence, contemporary reports said.

Now Charles Moore, former editor of the Daily Telegraph, reveals that writer and former politician Mr Phillips contacted him to give an opinion on the incendiary Oprah interview. 

Writing for his diary in The Spectator, Mr Moore quotes the email from Mr Phillips, who says: 'A genuinely interesting question about race would have been to ask the couple whether they had discussed Harry's own past behaviour and remarks. 

The couple's visit today coincides with the roll-out of Mentally Healthy Schools resources for secondary schools and how this is helping put mental health at the heart of their schools curriculum 

'It would've been a big positive for them to talk candidly about how they got past that history, and possibly an injunction for people to be generous.' 

Mr Moore then gives his own opinion: 'Yes, Harry could have helped young white men trying to tiptoe through this minefield.'

Mr Phillips adds: 'That's assuming that Meghan actually knows about his past life — she seems remarkably ill-informed about the family she married into, even though it is the most famous and widely reported clan in history.' 

Meghan said in the Oprah interview that she was so isolated and miserable as a working member of the royal family that she had suicidal thoughts. 

She also said Harry told her that member of the royal family had expressed 'concerns' about the color of her baby´s skin before the birth of their son, Archie.

Members of the royal family are known for ignoring the occasional questions shouted to them by the media during royal visits. 

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said: 'Imagine if Prince William had been in charge of the palace statement two days ago.'  

It comes as the Queen is set to extend a personal olive branch to Harry and Meghan as she takes charge of the fallout from their bombshell television interview.

With senior royals still 'reeling' following a series of explosive allegations by the couple, she has issued a 'three-line whip' to prevent staff discussing the situation publicly.

It is understood that she intends to try to pour oil on troubled waters by reaching out to her grandson and his wife in California instead. 

The 94-year-old monarch's determination to seize the initiative is deemed to be a sensible one.

Harry said he felt let down by his father, who, he claimed, refused to take his calls over the whole Megxit saga.

During the interview, the 36-year-old also admitted there was still a huge gulf between him and his brother.

He also accused an unnamed member of his family of racism and said the lack of support he and his wife received from the other royals was behind their decision to quit the UK. 

However both Harry and Meghan made a point of trying to 'ring fence' his grandparents from criticism, with the duchess saying how 'wonderful' and generous the Queen had been.

She also boasted of being able to call her without needing to speak to officials.  

Harry also insisted he hadn't 'blindsided' her with their decision to step down from royal duties as he had too much respect for his 'colonel in chief'. 

And he told Oprah to make clear in publicity for the show that the unidentified family member who Meghan claims expressed 'concern' about how 'dark' their child would be was neither of his grandparents.

Courtiers now hope and believe the Queen's approach will help to 'de-toxify' such a volatile situation.

'It is difficult to underestimate how shell-shocked everyone is by what has happened,' a source told the Daily Mail.

'People are literally reeling from what has happened and some staff would dearly love to publicly rebut some of what has been said about them.

'But the Queen has taken a very measured, sensible approach. She is leading by example. This is a matter for her and the family to deal with.'

And although they had not been expecting to receive an easy ride, they were stunned at the ferocity of the allegations hurled in their direction.

There was significant internal debate as to whether to rebut many of them, but instead the Queen personally opted for a 'compassionate but firm' approach.

A statement on her behalf read: 'The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

'The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.'

She added: 'Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.' 

The 61-word, three paragraph statement was in marked contrast to the three hours of interview Oprah boasted that Harry and Meghan had given her. 

A source added: 'There is a long way to go but hopefully things will start to move in the right direction in order for bridges to be built.'

It is hoped Harry and Meghan will now take the same approach. 

Before the interview their PR team insisted it would be the 'last word' on the family rift.

It is understood that the Queen intends to try to pour oil on troubled waters by reaching out to her grandson and his wife in California. It is expected that they will speak on the phone in the next few days

Meghan Markle made at least 13 trips abroad after her relationship with Prince Harry emerged - despite claiming her passport was seized when she 'joined the family'

Insiders fear even if Harry does manage to patch up relations with his family, irrevocable damage has been done. 

Palace staff watched Harry and Meghan's interview in horror as they claimed she was left completely unsupported when she joined the Royal Family, it emerged last night.

The Daily Mail can reveal there is genuine hurt that the couple have perpetuated the image that Meghan was cut adrift and left to fend for herself.

In fact, sources say, the duchess was given a string of the Queen's most senior staff as 'mentors' after the couple became engaged, as well as being allowed to hand-pick her own 15-strong team of loyal and talented private office staff.

'It is very disingenuous to make such a sweeping generalisation,' one insider said. 

'There was a brilliant team of very experienced and loyal aides to help them. Sadly, she and Harry were willing to listen to no one. And that is the honest truth.'

The Queen even personally persuaded her long-standing and extremely popular former deputy private secretary Samantha Cohen, who had just handed in her notice after working for the Royal Household for the best part of two decades, to stay on and work for the couple. 

She was their first joint private secretary, running their private and public lives rather like a chief of staff. 

One of her main roles was to help navigate Meghan through the wedding and prepare her for royal life. These included regular tutoring sessions on everything from royal etiquette to diplomatic protocol at Kensington Palace.

Australian-born Mrs Cohen, a mother of three, was considered the safest pair of hands possible. 

Having begun her career in the press office, rising to press secretary, and then moving to the Queen's private office in 2010, she was the most senior woman in the household and one of the Queen's key advisers, seen in the palace corridors as belonging to a more modern breed of royal executive.  

'The Queen gave her Sam, her most trusted, her safest set of hands,' a source said. Yet Meghan told Oprah that while the Queen had personally been 'wonderful', she hadn't received any guidance on how to behave as a royal – leaving her forced to google the National Anthem.

'Unlike what you see in the movies, there's no class on how to... how to speak, how to cross your legs, how to be royal,' she said.

'There was none of that training that might exist for other members of the family. That was not something that was offered to me.'

'Nobody prepares you?' asked Oprah. 

Meghan confirmed this adding: 'I'm sorry, but even down to, like, the National Anthem. No one thought to say, 'Oh, you're American. You're not gonna know that'. 

'That's me, late at night, googling... I don't wanna embarrass them. I need to learn these 30 hymns for church. 

'All of this is televised. We were doing the training behind the scenes 'cause I just wanted to make them proud.'

She also revealed that on the first occasion she met the Queen, at Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew's Windsor home, his ex-wife the Duchess of York – with whom he still lives – had to teach her how to strike a 'deep curtsey' as she had no idea what she would be required to do that in private.

Harry backed up his wife's claims, saying one of the main reasons for their decision to quit royal duties was a 'lack of support and lack of understanding'. 

But several sources have told the Mail that their account 'is not one anyone recognises'.

During the interview, Meghan Markle described how 'wonderful' and generous the Queen (pictured together in 2018) had been and boasted of being able to call her without needing to speak to officials

'If you believe Archie has suffered racism then call me a Nigerian prince and give me your credit card': Candace Owens backs Piers Morgan

 Conservative commentator Candace Owens has lashed out at Meghan Markle during an interview with Sean Hannity Wednesday night, describing the Duchess as a 'liar' and a 'narcissist'. 

Owens told the Fox News anchor that Meghan 'couldn't keep her stories straight' during her bombshell interview with Oprah last weekend.   

'She [Meghan] said she doesn't read newspapers or check social media. That's not true because she then said that she was suicidal because of bad press,' Owens stated. 

Conservative commentator Candace Owens has lashed out at Meghan Markle during an interview with Sean Hannity Wednesday night, describing the Duchess as a 'liar' and a 'narcissist'

Owens also claimed that Meghan's insinuation that her son, Archie, was not offered a title because of his skin tone was also untrue. 

'If you have seen a picture of Archie and you believe he suffered anti-black racism, then call me a Nigerian prince and give me your credit card,' the outspoken pundit proclaimed, saying that the baby Royal had a light skin tone. 

Owens additionally mocked Meghan for putting in a complaint to British broadcaster ITV because she was upset with critical comments made by Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan.  

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'No one wants to get into a tit-for-tat but it is important to stress that this idea the duchess wasn't helped with protocol, that no one taught her to curtsey, she had to google the National Anthem herself, isn't true,' said one.  

It was alleged last week that Mrs Cohen was one of those members of staff who experienced bullying at Meghan's hands, which has been denied by the Sussexes' lawyers.

As well as being given the services of Mrs Cohen, Meghan was also put on speed dial to the Queen's equerry, Ghanian-born Lieutenant Colonel Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah of the Household Cavalry. 

Equerries are senior officers who help organise the Queen's diary and official functions, often appearing at her side.

The Mail also understands that Meghan was able to lean on one of the Queen's most senior ladies-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, the widow of former BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey and one Prince William's godparents.

She has been the loyal friend and companion to the Queen since she joined the court in 1960 following the birth of Prince Andrew.

Like all ladies-in-waiting, Lady Susan accompanies Her Majesty on engagements and organises her diary, as well as dealing with her correspondence. 

She is not paid for her services. Like Sam Cohen, there couldn't have been a safer sounding board for the duchess to use,' said a source. 

'Lady Susan is very approachable, as are all the ladies-in-waiting, and would have wanted to help in any way they could.

'In fact it was said that all of the ladies-in-waiting came over to Kensington Palace to have tea with Harry and Meghan's team... as a getting-to-know-you session.'

The calibre of the team made available to Meghan was, sources say, a sign of how committed Buckingham Palace was to supporting her.

'The intimation from the interview was that Harry, and particularly Meghan, were on their own,' one insider explained.

'Of course no one could ever understand what it must be like being plunged into that world so quickly.

'But that's why this team was assembled. Contrary to what has been suggested, Buckingham Palace has learnt from the mistakes of the past and were determined to help them in any way they could. They wanted to make Harry and Meghan a success.

'Unfortunately they didn't want to listen. Harry was intrinsically distrustful of the institution and Meghan just really didn't want to know.' 

Leader of the black choir which sang at Meghan and Harry's wedding says that Prince Charles invited them to perform and she cannot believe he is racist amid fallout from Oprah interview

By Ross Ibbetson for MailOnline and Harriet Alexander for DailyMail.com

The black choir that performed at Meghan and Harry's wedding was invited by Prince Charles, it has emerged - and the gospel group's founder said she refuses to believe that he is racist.

Karen Gibson MBE led her London-based Kingdom Choir in a widely-acclaimed rendition of soul classic Stand By Me at the May 2018 nuptials at Windsor Castle.

Ms Gibson told TMZ it was Charles who invited them to perform at the wedding and that he had gone 'out of his way' to congratulate them on their success since. 

The conductor said she was 'finding it hard to believe' that it could have been Charles who said anything about the couple's unborn baby being 'too dark.'

Ms Gibson was referring to the shocking allegation of racism that was levelled at an unnamed senior royal during Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah on Sunday night which has sent shock waves through Buckingham Palace. 

The couple chose to rule out that the remark was made by the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh, leaving the allegation to hang over the remaining senior royals, including Charles, Prince William, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge. 

The Kingdom Choir, based in London, performed at the May 2018 royal wedding

Karen Gibson, founder and choir leader, said she could not believe Charles was racist

Prince Charles, pictured with Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, invited the choir to perform

Meghan and Harry on Sunday night alleged that questions were raised about Archie's skin

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The serious claim prompted William yesterday, on a visit to a school in east London, to emphatically deny the charge.

'We are very much not a racist family,' he told a reporter.

Buckingham Palace earlier this week issued a rare statement on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen to say how 'saddened' the family were by how unhappy Harry and Meghan told Oprah they had been.

It said: 'The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.' 

The choirmaster Ms Gibson also revealed this week how it had been difficult to get Harry and Meghan to agree to a version of Ben E. King's song for the wedding.

She told The Sun: 'They wanted the song stripped back, without a beat. Gospel is very lively and vibrant so it took a while for us to understand what they meant.

'We sent 12 versions to them over email but none were approved so, in the end, we had to go with what we thought was best.

Prince Charles had been 'gracious' towards the choir, the founder told TMZ

'We performed one version in front of them at Kensington Palace and they said, "That's it."'

She added that the newlyweds sent them a thank you card after the wedding. 

The royal family has been fighting off claims that they are racist, after Meghan, who has a black mother and a white father, told Oprah that someone within the family asked how 'dark' her son Archie's skin would be.

Meghan also revealed that she had found her experience of living as a royal so unbearable that she had considered killing herself.

Harry told Oprah that he felt 'trapped' within the monarchy and said that his father, Charles, and brother, William, remained trapped by it.

He said that chief among his concerns for his wife had been 'history repeating itself,' a reference to his mother Princess Diana's death in Paris in 1997. 

On Thursday Prince William became the first senior royal to address directly the string of allegations made by Harry and Meghan in their explosive interview. 

He also confirmed the depth of the rift between him and his brother.

William admitted he had not even spoken to Harry about the TV show – four days after it aired. 

The Queen and Prince Charles (pictured together in 2019) have backed Prince William after he spoke out to insist the Royal Family are 'very much not a racist family' as the fallout from Harry and Meghan's bombshell interview continues to grow

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Asked whether his family were racist, William replied: ''We're very much not a racist family.'

His reaction laid bare his clear hurt over the claims made by his brother and sister-in-law.

The prince's comments were praised by insiders, who said the 38-year-old did 'very well given the emotion and enormity of it all'.

On Thursday night, royal insiders claimed that although William and Harry have not spoken in months, the elder brother is prepared to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with the Duke of Sussex at the unveiling of a statue of their late motherSources told the Mirror 'both camps are prepared to come together' and put on a 'united front' when the tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales is installed at Kensington Palace on July 1.