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Nearly half of Britons think Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah is 'inappropriate' - poll

Rebecca Taylor
·Royal Correspondent
·3-min read

Watch: Harry and Meghan to talk to Oprah

Nearly half of Britons think it's inappropriate for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to carry out an intimate interview with Oprah Winfrey, less than a year after they ended their time as working royals.

The couple, who now live in California, will discuss a range of topics with the chat show host in a 90 minute special show which will be produced by Winfrey's company.

Harry and Meghan's popularity has been slipping in the UK since the couple decided to step back as senior royals, and a snap poll by YouGov shows most people don't think it's right for them to open up in an interview.

The poll of 4,334 adults found that 46% of people think it's inappropriate for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to do the interview.

But 29% of people disagree, and think it is appropriate.

A quarter of respondents did not know.

A snap poll found nearly half of respondents thought it was inappropriate for the couple to carry out an interview. (YouGov)
A snap poll found nearly half of respondents thought it was inappropriate for the couple to carry out an interview. (YouGov)

Read more: What Oprah Winfrey has said about her friends Harry and Meghan

Younger people were more likely to be in favour of the interview with Oprah, with 52% of 18 to 24-year-olds agreeing it was appropriate.

That opinion went down to just 11% among respondents aged over 65.

The majority (70%) of people aged 65 and up said it was inappropriate for the couple to speak to Oprah. But just 21% of 18 to 24-year-olds shared that view.

Meghan, 39, will talk one-on-one with Winfrey for the first part of the interview, which will cover her starting out in the Royal Family, her marriage, motherhood and philanthropy.

The two women will then be joined by Prince Harry.

The show is being billed as an "intimate conversation", and Winfrey has become friends with the couple over the last few years, and attended their wedding in 2018.

However it's had mixed response, with several reports that palace aides are concerned about the news.

Younger people are more likely to think the royals should do the interview. (YouGov)
Younger people are more likely to think the royals should do the interview. (YouGov)

Read more: 'It's no fairytale': What happened when Oprah interviewed Fergie

Dickie Arbiter, former palace press secretary, told Yahoo UK: "Oprah is a formidable interviewer and she'll squeeze the answers to the questions she asks.

"The Palace will be concerned as to how much they'll talk about life in the Royal Family.

"Harry will be circumspect, not sure about Meghan. If she respects and takes into consideration Harry's feelings for his grandmother and his dad, she'll hold back - the big question is will Oprah let her.

"I would imagine the other concern for the Palace is the fall out from the British media and its effect on the wider Royal Family."

US chat show host Oprah Winfrey poses during the European premiere of A Wrinkle in Time in London on March 13, 2018. (Photo by Anthony HARVEY / AFP) (Photo by ANTHONY HARVEY/AFP via Getty Images)
US chat show host Oprah Winfrey in London in March 2018. She's interviewed many famous names over the years. (Anthony Harvey/AFP)

While some have criticised the couple, suggesting they are invading their own privacy by agreeing to the interview, others were less concerned that it would include any big reveals.

Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair royal editor, said: "I don't think the Sussexes will want to rock the boat with the Queen and this will be a very carefully worded interview on both sides.

"The interview will I’m sure have fascinating insight but will be carefully choreographed."

The interview will air in the US on 7 March.

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