It was the Princess of Wales who pressed for the Queen to declare ‘recollections may vary’ in her infamous riposte to Harry and Meghan, a book has claimed.
Behind the scenes, Kate was even ‘steelier’ than Prince William in helping devise the robust palace response to the Sussexes’ incendiary racism allegations made in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, it was reported.
The future king and queen were said to have been united in wanting a ‘toughened up’ statement after Harry and Meghan’s televised bombshell.
New light has been shed on the palace drama by royal correspondent Valentine Low in the paperback edition of his book Courtiers.
He reveals in detail how the late Queen approved the subtle but firm comeback to her grandson’s toxic attack on the monarchy in the interview he and Meghan gave to Ms Winfrey in March 2021.
A global racism storm was sparked after the Sussexes claimed in an interview to Oprah Winfrey (pictured) that, when Meghan was pregnant with Prince Archie, there had been ‘concerns’ expressed at the palace about his possible skin colour
Behind the scenes, Kate was even ‘steelier’ than Prince William in helping devise the robust palace response to the Sussexes’ incendiary racism allegations. Pictured: Kate and Meghan in 2018
William and Kate were said to have been united in wanting a ‘toughened up’ statement after Harry and Meghan’s televised bombshell. Pictured: Harry and Meghan laugh during the 2021 interview with Oprah
A global racism storm was sparked after the Sussexes claimed that, when Meghan was pregnant with Prince Archie, there had been ‘concerns’ expressed at the palace about his possible skin colour.
The shock allegation triggered crisis talks at Buckingham Palace, during what was a difficult time already with Prince Philip seriously ill in hospital.
Meghan told Oprah she had phoned the Queen to check his condition as he spent almost a month in hospital while being treated for an infection. He died ‘peacefully’ around a month after.
A team of courtiers had stayed up overnight on Sunday to watch Meghan and Harry’s interview which was screened on US TV in the early hours of the morning UK time.
And although senior officials locked in conference calls had debated how to respond, with a draft statement ready by 2pm, the palace remained silent.
An insider reveals in Mr Low’s book: ‘One of the reasons was that the late Queen was adamant that she was going to watch the programme first.’ That meant waiting until it was broadcast on ITV on Monday evening.
And so it was on the Tuesday when the serious negotiations began over the official response to Harry and Meghan – with William and Kate leading the fightback.
According to Mr Low’s book, being serialised in The Times: ‘They sat together on a sofa as they discussed with their officials how to deal with the Sussexes’ incendiary allegations.’
A draft palace statement initially did not include the famous phrase, and was a ‘much milder version’. The book says: ‘William and Kate were clear which side of the debate they were on. ‘They wanted it toughened up a bit’.’
It was said the couple – who by then had had their fair share of run-ins with William’s younger brother and his wife – were adamant that ‘this does not stand’.
While Kate was ‘right behind’ William, it was said that she was even more firm than him on the matter. Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Queen’s Lying in State last September
The shock allegation triggered crisis talks at Buckingham Palace and a team of courtiers had stayed up overnight on Sunday to watch the interview. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth in March 2022
And while Kate was ‘right behind’ William, it was said that she was even more firm than him on the matter. When a courtier first suggested the ‘recollections may vary’ phrase – which was hailed as a classic iron-fist-in-velvet-glove royal manoeuvre – at least two palace officials argued against it in case it riled Harry and Meghan further.
But it was Kate, then the Duchess of Cambridge, ‘who pressed home the argument that it should remain’, Mr Low’s book says.
He quotes a source as saying: ‘It was Kate who clearly made the point, ‘History will judge this statement and unless this phrase or a phrase like it is included, everything that they have said will be taken as true’.’
The source said it was an example of how Kate is often far steelier than she appears: ‘She does not get as much credit as she should, because she is so subtle about it.
‘She is playing the long game. She has always got her eye on, ‘This is my life and my historic path and I am going to be the Queen one day’.’
The toughened-up draft went to Buckingham Palace for approval – and came back a couple of hours later, with a ‘yes’ from the Queen. It was released on the Tuesday night.
It was also ‘steely’ Kate who Meghan famously claimed had made her cry before she married Prince Harry.
In the bombshell interview, the Duchess of Sussex admitted that she had forgiven Kate and revealed she had bought her flowers to apologise about the incident.
The book says: ‘William and Kate were clear which side of the debate they were on. ‘They wanted it toughened up a bit’.’ Pictured: The Sussexes and Wales’ at Windsor Castle following the Queen’s death last year
The row with Prince William’s wife made headlines around the world after a supposed falling out over dresses for the flower girls.
Reports of the clash between the duchesses first emerged in November 2018, when sources claimed Meghan had been left displeased with the ‘stressful’ fitting.
Accounts differ as to whether the cause of the row was a disagreement on whether the bridesmaids should wear tights – Meghan reportedly believed they should not – or whether it stemmed from Princess Charlotte’s dress not fitting.
A source said at the time: ‘Kate had only just given birth to her third child, Prince Louis, and was feeling quite emotional.’
Tonight’s extraordinary revelations about Kate’s role in the palace’s response to Harry and Meghan’s interview comes as William and Harry both gave separate speeches congratulating the winners of the Diana Awards during a virtual ceremony shared online today.
The Prince of Wales featured first during the 43-minute online event by praising the ‘courage, compassion and relentless dedication’ shown by the young people who had been honoured.
The Duke of Sussex, who is at war with his brother over the fallout from Megxit, appeared twenty minutes later alongside a former award winner to speak about the importance of joining together with other campaigners because ‘no one is a conduit for change alone’.
It came as the awards organisers revealed Harry had paid a visit to an event in Los Angeles last month to surprise four of the winners with their certificates.
Tonight, Kensington Palace declined to comment.
