Michelle Obama 'not surprised' by Harry and Meghan's 'heartbreaking' race claims

Former US first lady hopes British royal family can resolve their dispute

Barack and Michelle Obama meeting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 2019. Getty Images

Michelle Obama described the Duchess of Sussex’s claims that her unborn son’s skin colour was questioned by a member of the royal family as “heartbreaking” but not a “complete surprise”.

The former US first lady said she “prayed for forgiveness and healing” for the couple in the hope their differences with the British royal family can be resolved.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the duke and duchess accused an unidentified royal family member of raising racist concerns about their son and courtiers of ignoring her pleas for help when she was suicidal.

Harry and Meghan’s tell-all TV interview with Winfrey has dragged the royals into their biggest crisis since the death of Harry's mother Diana in 1997.

Asked about Meghan's remarks, Mrs Obama told NBC News: "I feel like that was heartbreaking to hear, that she felt like she was in her own family – her own family thought differently of her.”

She said she hoped the family could overcome their feud by learning from Harry and Meghan’s experiences.

"As I said before, race isn't a new construct in this world for people of colour and so it wasn't a complete surprise to hear her feelings and to have them articulated," she said.

"I think the thing that I hope for, and the thing I think about, is that this, first and foremost, is a family. I pray for forgiveness and healing for them so that they can use this as a teachable moment for us all."

On a separate programme, a friend of Meghan claimed that Prince Charles and Prince William had spoken to Harry for the first time since the Winfrey interview went to air.

Gayle King, a CBS presenter, claimed the conversations were  "not productive".

""I did actually call them to see how they were feeling, and it's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too. The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive.

"But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation. And I think what is still upsetting to them is the palace keep saying they want to work it out privately, but yet, they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan, still.

"No one in the royal family has talked to Meghan yet, at this particular time."

Mrs Obama was asked what had gone through her mind while watching the candid interview with Winfrey.

She said public service was a “bright, sharp hot spotlight” and “most people don't understand it and nor should they”.

“The thing that I always keep in mind is that none of this is about us, in public service, it’s about the people that we serve. I always try to push the light back out and focus it on the folks that we're actually here to serve,” she said.

Queen Elizabeth II said that the royals were saddened by the experiences of her grandson and his wife, and promised to address claims of racism privately.

Prince William, Harry's elder brother, denied that Britain's royals were racist. “We are very much not a racist family,” he said.

The former first lady is a long-time supporter of Meghan, calling her a "friend" and "inspiration" in a 2019 Instagram post.

Prince Harry formed a bond with the Obamas over charity initiatives, including the Invictus Games Foundation.

The duke appeared in a promotional video for the games with the queen in response to a challenge from the Obamas. Meghan interviewed Mrs Obama for an edition of British Vogue that she guest-edited in 2019.