It was KATE who insisted ‘recollections may vary’ line must stay in royal family’s fightback statement after Harry and Meghan’s Oprah ‘racism’ storm, new book claims: ‘Princess said history would judge The Firm over its response to TV allegations’
- Queen approved subtle but firm comeback to the Sussexes’ Oprah interview
- New light had been shed on palace drama in the paperback edition of Courtiers
It was the Princess of Wales who pressed for the Queen to declare ‘recollections may vary’ in her infamous riposte to Harry and Meghan, a book has claimed.
Behind the scenes, Kate was even ‘steelier’ than Prince William in helping devise the robust palace response to the Sussexes’ incendiary racism allegations made in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, it was reported.
The future king and queen were said to have been united in wanting a ‘toughened up’ statement after Harry and Meghan’s televised bombshell.
New light has been shed on the palace drama by royal correspondent Valentine Low in the paperback edition of his book Courtiers.
He reveals in detail how the late Queen approved the subtle but firm comeback to her grandson’s toxic attack on the monarchy in the interview he and Meghan gave to Ms Winfrey in March 2021.
A global racism storm was sparked after the Sussexes claimed in an interview to Oprah Winfrey (pictured) that, when Meghan was pregnant with Prince Archie, there had been ‘concerns’ expressed at the palace about his possible skin colour
Behind the scenes, Kate was even ‘steelier’ than Prince William in helping devise the robust palace response to the Sussexes’ incendiary racism allegations. Pictured: Kate and Meghan in 2018
William and Kate were said to have been united in wanting a ‘toughened up’ statement after Harry and Meghan’s televised bombshell. Pictured: Harry and Meghan laugh during the 2021 interview with Oprah
A global racism storm was sparked after the Sussexes claimed that, when Meghan was pregnant with Prince Archie, there had been ‘concerns’ expressed at the palace about his possible skin colour.
The shock allegation triggered crisis talks at Buckingham Palace. A team of courtiers had stayed up overnight on Sunday to watch the interview which was screened on US TV in the early hours of the morning UK time.
And although senior officials locked in conference calls had debated how to respond, with a draft statement ready by 2pm, the palace remained silent.
An insider reveals in Mr Low’s book: ‘One of the reasons was that the late Queen was adamant that she was going to watch the programme first.’ That meant waiting until it was broadcast on ITV on Monday evening.
And so it was on the Tuesday when the serious negotiations began over the official response to Harry and Meghan – with William and Kate leading the fightback.
According to Mr Low’s book, being serialised in The Times: ‘They sat together on a sofa as they discussed with their officials how to deal with the Sussexes’ incendiary allegations.’
A draft palace statement initially did not include the famous phrase, and was a ‘much milder version’. The book says: ‘William and Kate were clear which side of the debate they were on. ‘They wanted it toughened up a bit’.’
It was said the couple – who by then had had their fair share of run-ins with William’s younger brother and his wife – were adamant that ‘this does not stand’.
While Kate was ‘right behind’ William, it was said that she was even more firm than him on the matter. Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Queen’s Lying in State last September
The shock allegation triggered crisis talks at Buckingham Palace and a team of courtiers had stayed up overnight on Sunday to watch the interview. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth in March 2022
The book says: ‘William and Kate were clear which side of the debate they were on. ‘They wanted it toughened up a bit’.’ Pictured: The Sussexes and Wales’ at Windsor Castle following the Queen’s death last year
And while Kate was ‘right behind’ William, it was said that she was even more firm than him on the matter. When a courtier first suggested the ‘recollections may vary’ phrase – which was hailed as a classic iron-fist-in-velvet-glove royal manoeuvre – at least two palace officials argued against it in case it riled Harry and Meghan further.
But it was Kate, then the Duchess of Cambridge, ‘who pressed home the argument that it should remain’, Mr Low’s book says.
He quotes a source as saying: ‘It was Kate who clearly made the point, ‘History will judge this statement and unless this phrase or a phrase like it is included, everything that they have said will be taken as true’.’
The source said it was an example of how Kate is often far steelier than she appears: ‘She does not get as much credit as she should, because she is so subtle about it.
‘She is playing the long game. She has always got her eye on, ‘This is my life and my historic path and I am going to be the Queen one day’.’
The toughened-up draft went to Buckingham Palace for approval – and came back a couple of hours later, with a ‘yes’ from the Queen. It was released on the Tuesday night.
Kensington Palace declined to comment.
