Sir Keir Starmer has said the allegations made bythe Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their Oprah interview were a “matter now for the [royal] family” to resolve.
The Labour leader said earlier this week that Meghan and Harry’s claims of racism and lack of support when she had suicidal thoughts must be taken “very, very seriously”.
Buckingham Palace responded by saying race and mental health claims would be “taken seriously” and addressed privately. Prince William said on Thursday that the royals were “very much not a racist family”.
Asked again about the row at his party’s local election campaign launch, Sir Keir said: “The issue that Meghan raised of race and mental health are serious. The palace has now responded and I do think it is a matter now for the family, and I do hope it is resolved as soon as possible.”
The Labour leader added: “But the wider issues in society about race and mental health are something for all of us to take seriously.”
The palace came under huge pressure to respond to the interview after Meghan claimed that questions had been asked about the skin colour of the couple’s son Archie prior to his birth.
She also claimed she was discouraged from seeking help with her mental health when feeling suicidal.
Boris Johnson has admitted to watching the Sussexes’ interview with Oprah Winfrey, but has been at pains to stay out of the controversy. “I’ve spent a long time now not commenting on royal family matters and I don’t intend to depart from that,” he said earlier this week.
One of his ministers, Zac Goldsmith, managed to avoid a rebuke after he accused Prince Harry of “blowing up his family” and stating: “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.”
While several Labour MPs have applauded the Duchess of Sussex for speaking out, some Tory MPs have condemned those perceived to be critical of the royal family or the British press.
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Lee Anderson MP said Hillary Clinton was “a fine one to talk about scandals” after she said Meghan’s treatment had been “outrageous”.
Fellow Tory backbencher Steve Brine suggested Joe Biden’s administration should keep out of the matter after the White House press secretary praised the couple’s “courage” in speaking out.
“This is not their battle,” he told Times Radio. “Why on earth should they weigh into it?”
