London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 13, 2026

Oprah's Team Denied Reports That She's Planning A "Tell-All Interview" With Meghan Markle And Prince Harry

Major UK news outlets reported Monday that the royal couple would "threaten" the Queen with a "no-holds-barred" interview to get her to allow them to step down as senior members of the royal family.

Oprah Winfrey's spokesperson on Monday denied to BuzzFeed News that the media executive's team is setting up an interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle), following reports that the royal couple planned to "threaten" the Queen with the promise of a tell-all interview.

In an email Monday, Winfrey's chief spokesperson and executive vice president of communications and strategy at the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), Nicole Nichols, told BuzzFeed News that there are no discussions for an interview with Meghan and Harry.

"No, not in discussion for an interview," she said in an email.

Members of the royal family met today to talk logistics about the duke and duchess's plan to "step down" as senior members, a decision that would allow them to split their time between Canada and the UK and live without taxpayer funding.

On Sunday, the day before the "summit," reports began to circulate that Meghan and Harry had been in communication with Winfrey and several major US television networks and planned to use the threat of a no-holds-barred interview to influence the Queen into allowing them to step down under favorable terms.

BuzzFeed News has reached out to the Sun, NBC News, CBS News, ABC News, and representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.


According to UK tabloid the Sun, which featured the story on its front page, a "royal source" said that the Sussexes' team was reaching out to Winfrey and major US media networks to "explore the possibilities of a sit-down warts-and-all interview" to use as leverage for exit discussions.

“Perhaps Harry and Meghan will use this as a negotiating tactic as there is no way the royals want their dirty laundry out in the open. Maybe they will get more money if they agree not to talk,” the paper reported.

The story was picked up and cited by the Daily Mail, the Express, the New York Post, and a number of other international media outlets.

When the Queen released a statement agreeing to the Sussexes' plan — with the caveat that there are "complex matters for [the] family to resolve" within the next few days — a number of people on Twitter cited the story as the reason, concluding that the Queen would only have made such a decision under threat.

"Personally, I couldn't give a shit what Harry and Meghan do, but to blackmail your 93-year-old grandma would be the lowest of the low," said one person, linking to the Sun story.

Earlier Monday, Prince William and Prince Harry issued a rare joint statement condemning an “offensive and harmful” newspaper report about their relationship.

Winfrey's denial of interview discussions with Sussexes comes three days after CBS News shut down widespread reports that Winfrey's friend Gayle King was planning to "grill" the couple in an exclusive interview of her own.

"Gayle says she has had absolutely no conversations with Meghan & Harry (or their representatives) about doing an interview with them," the network said in a statement.

This is the second time since Harry and Meghan's announcement that Winfrey -who was a guest at the Sussexes wedding in May 2018 -has spoken out against reports linking her to the royal couple's actions.

On Friday, following stories claiming that the TV legend had "encouraged" the couple to consider living in America and build their own brand in an attempt to become independent, Winfrey issued a statement denying any involvement in the Sussexes' decision.

"Meghan and Harry do not need my help figuring out what's best for them," Oprah told BuzzFeed News. "I care about them both and support whatever decisions they make for their family."

And last week, former US president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama denied widespread reports that they were advising the royal couple on how to find "huge commercial success without actually looking like they are getting their hands dirty, to put it bluntly, and retaining their popularity."

"There's no truth to it," an Obama spokesperson told People magazine Friday. "Rumors of them having anything to do with this are totally false. The former president and first lady are not advising the couple and have not been in contact with them."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
World Cup Visitors Turn American Big-Box Stores Into Souvenir Stops
Netflix Weighs Always-On Channels, Bundles and Short-Form Video
Passenger Is Pulled Partly Outside Ryanair Jet After Window Fails Mid-Flight
Innovation-led growth strategy
Public service reform pressure
Defence and industrial security
Labour leadership transition and economic reset
Northern England Pushes for Greater Influence in Britain’s Future Economic Model
UK Technology Strategy Focuses on Life Sciences, Digital Innovation and Research Investment
Britain and United States Maintain Focus on Pharmaceuticals Cooperation and Industrial Growth
UK Public Services Face Continued Pressure as Government Promises Visible Improvements
Regional Economic Power Becomes Key Theme in Britain’s Next Political Phase
Britain Expands Support for Small Businesses as Firms Seek Better Access to Finance
UK Economy Remains Central Political Challenge as Cost of Living and Growth Concerns Persist
National Health Service Introduces New Workplace Reviews to Improve Conditions for Healthcare Staff
UK Life Sciences Sector Secures More Than Three Billion Pounds in Investment to Support Innovation
Britain Strengthens Defence Strategy as Security Concerns Reshape Military and Industrial Policy
Andy Burnham Promises Stronger UK Defence Industry and Expanded Domestic Production
UK Government Faces Difficult Spending Choices as Labour Leadership Transition Approaches
Rachel Reeves Warns Andy Burnham of Immediate Economic Challenges After Expected Leadership Change
Andy Burnham Prepares to Lead UK Government With Plans for Regional Power Shift and Economic Reset
Government Creates Emergency Support Scheme for Financially Struggling Universities
United Kingdom Replaces Traditional Farm Subsidies With Payments Linked to Environmental Performance
National Grid Reports First Week of Electricity Generation Without Fossil Fuels
United Kingdom Financial Regulator Introduces Tougher Capital Rules for Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Belfast Harbour Expands Operations to Attract Investment Through United Kingdom and European Union Market Access
Scottish Government Threatens Legal Challenge Over Westminster Cuts to North Sea Transition Funding
United Kingdom Accelerates Trans-Pennine High-Speed Rail Project Linking Northern Cities
United Kingdom Secures Ten Billion Pound Investment for Cambridge Quantum Computing Campus
Port Talbot Steelworks Wins Support for Green Hydrogen Transition and Protection of Industrial Jobs
United Kingdom Sends Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group to Indo-Pacific as Regional Security Focus Expands
National Health Service Expands Artificial Intelligence Diagnostics Across England to Reduce Screening Backlogs
United Kingdom Launches Fifty Billion Pound Infrastructure Fund to Accelerate Housing and Construction
UK Medical Chiefs Update Health Guidance to Promote Everyday Physical Activity
Office of Communications Keeps Wikipedia Under Review Under UK Online Safety Rules
UK Defence Ministry Expands Deep-Strike Capability Through Precision Missile Programme
Russell Group Universities Warn Funding Cuts Could Damage NHS Workforce Training
UK Parliament Calls for National Emergency Broadcast as Heatwave Conditions Intensify
UK and Netherlands Strengthen Naval Cooperation With New Amphibious Defence Partnership
UK Defence Ministry Joins International Missile Programme With One Hundred and Ninety Million Pound Investment
Bank of England Warns Middle East Conflict and AI Risks Could Pressure UK Economy
UK Government Introduces New Rules to Limit Foreign Influence in Political Donations
UK and France Prepare Naval Mission to Protect Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz
United States Pressures UK to Increase Defence Spending at NATO Summit
Bank of England Warns Artificial Intelligence Investment Boom Could Create Financial Stability Risks
Bank of England Begins Direct Oversight of Critical Technology Providers Supporting UK Finance
Andy Burnham Set to Become UK Prime Minister After Labour Leadership Race Clears Path to Downing Street
Scottish Fishing Industry Calls for Emergency Support Amid Rising Costs
UK Supports Stronger European Response to Russian Actions in Ukraine
Devon and Cornwall Police Release Suspect in Ann Widdecombe Murder Investigation
×