Michelle Obama Says 'It Wasn't A Complete Surprise To Hear' Meghan Markle Talk About Alleged Racism In The Royal Family
In March, Meghan Markle shocked the world when she claimed that someone in the royal family was "concerned" over Archie's skin color — but Former First Lady Michelle Obama shared that she wasn't thrown off by what the Duchess had to say.
“As I said before, race isn’t a new construct in this world for people of color, so it wasn’t a complete surprise to hear her feelings and to have them articulated," Obama told Jenna Bush Hager on the Today show.
“I think the thing that I hope for, and the thing I think about, is that this, first and foremost, is a family," Obama added. “I pray for forgiveness and healing for them so that they can use this as a teachable moment for us all.”
The book author previously revealed her thoughts on Meghan and Prince Harry's interview earlier this year. "My hope is that, when I think about what they're going through, I think about the importance of family and I just pray that there is forgiveness and there is clarity and love and resolve at some point in time," she said. "Because there's nothing more important than family."
Following the interview, Buckingham Palace released a statement over the accusations. "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan," it read. "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."
Prince William also defended his brood, telling reporters, "We are very much not a racist family."
Additionally, Prince Charles was upset about the accusations.
"The prince believes in diversity and his actions show that," the insider told PEOPLE. "He was the first person to highlight the Windrush generation [the first mass immigration from the Caribbean to the U.K. in the 1950s] and the contributions they made to British society. He has worked hard for the Muslim community. Of all the members of the royal family, he has taken this issue the most seriously."
