Oprah Reveals Her Thoughts On Harry And Meghan's Big Decision
We don't know about you guys, but we're still trying to process the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's plans to step back as senior members of the royal family. That's because the move — announced Jan. 8, 2020 to great fanfare — has caused a ton of drama in Buckingham Palace, especially concerning the queen, who is reportedly outraged by her grandson's decision to jump ship. Making matters even juicier? Every person on the freaking planet seems to have an opinion about the situation, including media mogul Oprah Winfrey. The television vet, who is supposedly close with Meghan Markle's mom, Doria Ragland, and was a guest at their May 2018 wedding, weighed in on the situation via a conversation with People.
Although we're not surprised by Winfrey's support of "Megxit," we are curious to know whether she advised the couple on their future plans. Pour yourself a spot of tea because we're about to reveal the real role the billionaire played in this situation.
Was Oprah Winfrey the brainchild behind Megxit?
Before we dive into what Oprah Winfrey really thinks about Megxit, let's first touch on the speculation that she advised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on how to build their brand outside of the royal family. According to Page Six, Winfrey supposedly chatted with the couple regarding their "Sussex Royal" trademark, which they've used as a brand "on more than 100 properties in the UK, including clothing, stationery, photographs and educational and charitable endeavors — with predicted revenue of over $500 million." Considering Winfrey is reportedly worth a cool $3.5 billion, we wouldn't blame the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for seeking out her advice.
Winfrey told People she did not personally advise Meghan and Harry about their emancipation from Buckingham Palace, but that doesn't mean the new parents don't have her full support. "Meghan and Harry do not need my help figuring out what's best for them," the Mississippi native told the outlet. "I care about them both and support whatever decisions they make for their family."
Oprah Winfrey says Meghan Markle is 'remarkable'
Just one month before Meghan Markle gave birth to her adorable son, Archie, Oprah Winfrey sat down for an interview with her bestie Gayle King on CBS This Morning to discuss the Duchess of Sussex's treatment in the press. "I think she's being portrayed unfairly, and I feel that if people really knew her, they would know that she is not only everything that we perceive her as being — graceful and dynamic and holding that position — but she just has a wonderful, warm, giving, loving heart," Winfrey told King. "I see all the crazy press around her. I think it's really unfair."
Winfrey also gave the former Suits star a huge compliment. "She actually does not read anything," Winfrey said. We assume "anything" refers to all the tabloid chatter about Markle's looks, her parenting, her marriage, and her standing with the royal family. "I think that's remarkable — that in spite of all that's going on, she does not read anything."
Who knows, maybe Markle will become the third member of King and Winfrey's tight friendship circle when she moves to North America. After all, King did attend her baby shower in New York City.
Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry already have a partnership
Oprah Winfrey vocalizing her support for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shouldn't come as a surprise. Winfrey and the Duke of Sussex have already announced a professional partnership in April 2019, revealing their plans to collaborate on a mental-health series for Apple TV. "The dynamic multi-part documentary series will focus on both mental illness and mental wellness, inspiring viewers to have an honest conversation about the challenges each of us faces, and how to equip ourselves with the tools to not simply survive, but to thrive," the Sussex Royal Instagram account stated at the time.
So how did this partnership come to be? Although we love the idea of Winfrey shooting the prince a text, it turns out that the idea came to life through a simple conversation. "As you know, he's spoken about his own issues and what he went through after his mother died and how being able to talk about it has benefitted him," the TV queen shared on CBS This Morning. "It's a passion of his and at the end of the conversation, I said, 'Oh, I'm going to be doing this thing with Apple. I said it's a big concern of mine, too ... and he said at the end of the conversation, 'If there's anything I can do to help.'"
Considering not everyone is a fan of Meghan and Harry's decision (including some family members,) we're glad they've got a high-powered figure like Winfrey in their corner.