Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, world’s longest-serving monarch, dies at 96

A year later, Harry and Meghan confirmed their decision. “While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family,” the queen said in a statement.

Then in March 2021, the Sussexes aired their charges of racism during an interview with Oprah Winfrey from their home in Santa Barbara, California. Meghan alleged that a member of “The Firm” had raised concerns during her pregnancy with Archie about how “dark his skin might be when he’s born.” The couple didn’t identify who had raised the issue, but said it wasn’t Elizabeth or Philip. The Sussexes also said the family had withdrawn security protection for them, and Meghan said she had had “clear and real and frightening thought” about suicide.

In a statement after the interview aired, the queen responded with concern and sensitivity: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning, 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.”

Three months later, in June 2021, Meghan gave birth to the queen’s 11th great-grandchild, Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, named after Harry’s grandmother and mother.

Around that time, Elizabeth was criticized after reports that she allowed Andrew to be interviewed in Buckingham Palace by the BBC in November 2019 about his relationship with Epstein. Days after the interview, Andrew announced that the queen “has given her permission” for him to “step back from public duties for the foreseeable future.”

The announcement happened to come on the 72nd anniversary of the queen’s marriage to Philip.

An earlier example of how the queen’s years of diplomacy and experience managed to win over people was demonstrated in the 2011 state visit to Ireland, a country that spent the first half of the 20th century fighting for independence from the U.K. and the second half involved in the Northern Ireland “troubles” that saw 3,600 people dead, including Philip’s mentor, Lord Mountbatten. Her official visit to Ireland, the first by a British monarch in a century, came nearly 13 years after the Good Friday peace agreement.

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/08/queen-elizabeth-ii-of-britain-worlds-longest-serving-monarch-dies-at-age-96.html