Meghan Markle’s 2017 interview with Vanity Fair became a major talking point, particularly due to the cover story that revolved around her relationship with Prince Harry. However, royal expert Tom Bower’s book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors, reveals that the Duchess of Sussex ignored Prince Harry’s strict instructions about what topics to avoid during the interview.
According to Bower, Meghan had been given clear guidance from Harry, as well as from her publicist, Keleigh Thomas Morgan, to steer clear of sensitive subjects like her relationship with Harry, politics, and race. Meghan was reportedly told not to discuss Donald Trump, their romance, or Harry himself during the interview.
Bower details that when journalist Sam Kashner arrived at Meghan’s home to conduct the interview, Meghan was already aware of the rules set by Harry and her PR team. Harry, having witnessed how interviews had damaged the reputations of other royals, such as Diana and Sarah Ferguson, was particularly concerned about the potential fallout from discussing sensitive topics. His instructions were clear: no mention of their relationship, race, or anything that could be deemed controversial.
Despite these warnings, the interview did not go as planned. Meghan’s comments about her relationship with Harry made it onto the cover, and the conversation also touched on political issues, including Donald Trump. Bower notes that Meghan’s publicist, Ken Sunshine, later advised her that her comments about Harry should have been removed from the interview.
After the interview, Meghan reportedly reached out to Sunshine Sachs, her PR firm, and expressed distress over Buckingham Palace’s anger regarding her comments. According to Bower, she was hysterical over the negative response and the coverage of her relationship with Harry in the Vanity Fair piece.
Meghan’s decision to go against Harry’s advice raised eyebrows at the time, and it adds another layer of complexity to the already strained dynamics between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the royal family. The interview remains a significant moment in their public lives, particularly given the royal family’s preference for privacy and the fallout that followed Meghan’s candid comments.
