London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Harry and Meghan urged to delay Oprah interview out of respect for Prince Philip

Harry and Meghan urged to delay Oprah interview out of respect for Prince Philip

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been urged to ask CBS to postpone the airing of their Oprah interview while Prince Philip battles an infection in hospital.

Two trailers for the two hour special special, promising ‘shocking’ revelations, were released hours before the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, was moved to another hospital for checks on a pre-existing heart condition.

Senior royal sources claim the family is ‘pretty appalled’ by the idea of the ‘tell-all’ interview being broadcast while Philip is so unwell.

In a teaser aired on Sunday night Oprah suggested 39-year-old Meghan’s time in the Royal family was ‘almost unsurvivable’ and took the couple to a ‘breaking point’ amid a war with the British press.

Referring to the death of his mother Princess Diana, Harry, 36, says he had to take his family to LA because he feared ‘history repeating itself’.

With the royals praying for Prince Phillip after he was transferred to another hospital by ambulance, experts on the family are calling for the Oprah interview to be delayed.

Author of Prince Harry, Brother, Soldier, Son, Penny Junor, told the Sun: ‘It’s bad timing when they’re going to be saying “poor us”.’



Harry and Meghan are expected to make ‘shocking’ revelations about their life as senior royals

Prince Phillip, 99, was transferred by ambulance from King Edward VII Hospital

Royal commentator and former editor of Who’s Who Richard Fitzwilliams said it would ‘surely be appropriate’ to postpone the interview, due to be aired on Sunday, given that it discusses the problems Harry and Meghan faced as working royals.


He told MailOnline: ‘Oprah is their friend and neighbour and would undoubtedly comply if asked and the gesture would I am sure be appreciated by the royal family. If an interview has been extended, as this recently has, it can also be postponed, as this undoubtedly should be’.

Royal biographer Robert Jobson added: ‘With the Duke of Edinburgh clearly very unwell, the fact that the couple plan to go ahead with airing their self-indulgent, no holds barred interview with chat show queen Oprah Winfrey makes them appear heartless, thoughtless and supremely selfish.

‘For US broadcast network CBS this interview is a coup, all about securing big viewing figures and big advert sales around the airing of their exclusive interview. So even if they wanted to Harry and Meghan probably couldn’t dictate terms to Oprah Winfrey and the network now. Too much has been invested.’



Harry’s grandfather, 99, is being treated for an infection and is having checks for a pre-existing heart condition

A teaser released hours before Philip’s transfer shows Oprah suggesting Meghan’s situation was ‘almost unsurvivable’


A TV industry insider told the Mirror: ‘CBS has sold millions of dollars worth of advertising around the interview, but bosses are aware of the delicacy of the Duke’s heath.”

‘They have no loyalty to the Royal Family, although some feel as though they do to Harry and Meghan.

‘For it to run if Philip’s condition worsened would be like setting off a diplomatic bomb. It would be grossly insensitive and hugely disrespectful.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted CBS for comment.

Public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski warned that Harry and Meghan are at risk of a ‘real reputational mess’ if they go ahead with the broadcast.

He said: ‘The timing is just horrendous. Anybody who looks at this through the optics of a caring family, even a family who are estranged from one another, it’s very uncomfortable as you edge towards Sunday.’

ITV has reportedly won the bidding war to screen the interview in a deal said to be worth around £1million, according to MailOnline.

After airing in the US on Sunday, the interview is expected to be shown in the UK on Monday, March 8.

Mr Borkowski added: ‘Harry and Meghan are supposed to be a sensitive, caring and empathetic brand… but they’re going ahead with this juggernaut.’

If Philip’s health were to worsen, Mr Borkowski said Harry and Meghan’s fate would be ‘in the lap of the gods’.

He added: ‘If you were strategically giving advice about mitigating reputational damage, you would show huge empathy by postponing.’

Mr Borkowski said a deterioration in Philip’s health would also raise serious issues for ITV as to whether the screening should go ahead in the UK.

He added: ‘I think brands have to take a considered view about whether they want their advertising anywhere near this.’

ITV has yet to comment.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×