In the 2021 interview, Harry and Meghan opened up about their royal exit

Michelle Obama once weighed in on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

As headlines around the world reacted to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s shocking revelations and allegations, the former US First Lady shared her thoughts in an interview with Access Hollywood.

Michelle Obama once shared her hope that the royal family could reconcile after Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview (Credit: Ron Sachs/CNP/SplashNews.com)

How Michelle Obama reacted to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Oprah interview

Michelle expressed her hope that the family would find forgiveness and unity in the future.

“My hope is that, when I think about what they’re going through, I think about the importance of family,” she said, as reported by PEOPLE.

“I just pray that there is forgiveness and there is clarity and love and resolve at some point in time. Because there’s nothing more important than family.”

In the interview with Oprah, Meghan claimed that there had been “concerns and conversations” within the royal family about how dark her son Archie’s skin might be when he was born.

She also claimed that it was Kate, Princess of Wales, who had made her cry ahead of her 2018 wedding, not the other way around as was previously reported.

The Duchess of Sussex spoke candidly about how palace life left her feeling isolated and struggling with her mental health.

The interview’s aftermath sent shockwaves through Buckingham Palace. In a rare public statement, the palace acknowledged the seriousness of the claims, especially around race, saying the issues would be handled privately.

“While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members,” the statement read.

Prince William, when asked by a reporter days later, firmly responded: “We are very much not a racist family.”

Reactions poured in globally, including from the White House. Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at the time: “For anyone to come forward and speak about their own struggles with mental health and tell their own personal story, that takes courage.”

In the 2021 interview, Harry and Meghan opened up about why they chose to step back from the royal family (Credit: ITV/CBS/YouTube)

Royal family ‘rift’

However, despite Michelle Obama’s hope for reconciliation, tensions within the royal family appear to have deepened in the years since.

In 2023, Harry released his tell-all memoir Spare, which only seemingly widened the rift.

In the book, he described a heated altercation where Prince William allegedly called Meghan “difficult” and “rude,” then physically attacked Harry.

Attempts to rebuild bridges between the brothers have reportedly been unsuccessful. Sources say Prince Harry’s attempts to reconnect have gone unanswered.

Meanwhile, Harry made a brief visit to the UK in September. The Duke of Sussex met privately with his father, King Charles, for just under an hour at Clarence House. However, there was reportedly no contact with William or Camilla during the trip.