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5 Key Moments from Oprah's Interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

The Sussexes openly share their grievances with the royal family for the first time since leaving the Palace last year.
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The whole world eagerly awaited the interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Oprah Winfrey to hear their side of the story on why they gave up their royal titles last year. From suicidal thoughts and Meghan's naivety about entering the royal family to their new life in Montecito, California and the backroom discussions about the skin color of their—then-unborn—son Archie, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke with candor about their experience with the monarchy. The interview, a stark contrast to royal protocol, opened many windows into the couple's life over the last four years. Here are five major revelations from the broadcast to know.

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Suicidal Thoughts

After months of being confronted by negative press coverage, the Duchess of Sussex revealed she had been struggling with suicidal thoughts. "I just didn't see a solution. I would sit up at night, and I was just like, ‘I don’t understand how all of this is being churned out,'" Meghan told Winfrey.

Eventually, she sounded the alarm and asked to get help for her mental health, but said she received no support from the royal family. "I said I needed to go somewhere because I had never felt like this before, but I was told that was not an option because it would not be good for the Palace's reputation."

Archie's Skin Color

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In the interview, Markle said there were talks at Buckingham Palace "about how dark [Archie's] skin would be once he was born," and the concerns associated with this topic. Prince Harry confirmed to have been present when those conversations took place, but declined to disclose the names of whom she spoke. "

He explained, "I will never share that, but at the time I found it very uncomfortable and I was shocked."

Archie's Title

The couple's son did not receive a royal title after his birth. Although Harry and Meghan did not want that themselves, because they wanted a life as normal as possible for Archie, they weren't even given the chance.

"While I was pregnant, they said they wanted to change the rules," said Markle. "I don't think it's their right to take his title, they did not want my child to become a prince or princess. He would not have the right to special security, we understood in the last months of my pregnancy."

She continued, "It's not that we wanted him to be a prince, but if taking his title meant they didn't want to take care of him, that's a different story. We want our son to be safe."

Secret Marriage

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As their royal wedding approached in May 2018, Meghan realized that her life was no longer her own. That's why she and Harry decided to tie the knot three days before the public event. She revealed, "No one knows this, but we called the Archbishop and said, 'Look, we're doing the spectacle for the rest of the world, but we want our commitment just with the two of us.'”

The Archbishop of Canterbury married them in a secret ceremony in their own garden. “Our vows, which are framed in our room, were pronounced there. The marriage certificate also has that date. We were only there with the three of us.” She said of their public wedding day, "I think we both realized very well that that day was not ours."

It's a girl!

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The couple ended the interview on a positive note—their family is happy in their home in Montecito, California and will be welcoming a daughter this summer. A happy Prince Harry cheered, "A boy and a girl, what more could a person want?"

“We are not just surviving, we are thriving. Our current situation is better than any fairytale. I only regret believing the palace when they said they would protect me. Harry's decision to leave saved my life,” said Meghan.

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