Advertisement

‘I’m ready to talk’: Meghan says it’s liberating being able to speak for herself in new Oprah interview clip

Watch: Meghan says it’s liberating being able to speak for herself in new Oprah interview clip

Meghan Markle has said it is liberating to talk for herself as she reveals why she is choosing to do an interview now, a year after stepping back from royal duties.

In the latest clip ahead of the interview on Sunday, Winfrey revealed she called Meghan in early 2018 asking for an interview - but Meghan said it was not the right time.

But Meghan said of Winfrey's request: "I wasn't even allowed to have that conversation with you personally."

Asked what is right about this time, she said: "We are on the other side of a lot of life experience that's happened and we have the ability to make out own choices, in a way that I couldn't have said yes to you then, that wasn't my choice to make.

"As an adult who lived a really independent life and to go into this construct that is different that I think what people imagine it to be.

"It's really liberating to have the right and the privilege in some ways to be able to say yes."

She added: "I’m ready to talk"

Winfrey replied: "And not to have to consult with anybody at this point. Yes."

Meghan responded: "Yeah. To be able to just make a choice on your own. And to be able to speak for yourself."

It comes after the release of a segment in which the duchess accused "The Firm" of "perpetuating falsehoods" about her.

The first part of the interview will be Meghan one on one with Winfrey. (CBS)
The first part of the interview will be Meghan one on one with Winfrey. (CBS)

In a clip released on Thursday, hours after the palace confirmed it would be investigating allegations the duchess bullied two people out of their jobs while a senior royal, Meghan said: "I don’t know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.

“And, if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I…there is a lot that has been lost already.”

The interview with Winfrey was filmed around two weeks ago, which means the comments were made before the allegations of bullying involving Meghan.

The Duchess denied claims of bullying and said they are a "smear campaign".

It's not clear what she is referring to in the clip, but the remark came after Winfrey asked: "How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?"

The term 'the Firm' is usually used to refer to the members of the Royal Family themselves.

But Omid Scobie, who wrote the unauthorised biography of Harry and Meghan, told Good Morning Britain: "When Harry and Megan talk about the firm or the institution, they’re not attacking the royal family.

“They’re talking about the machine of the monarchy, that’s what goes on behind the scenes, and I think any royal family member is able to distinguish the two.”

Watch: Meghan Markle interview: Duchess of Sussex accuses palace of 'perpetuating falsehoods' in new Oprah clip

Read more: Why Meghan's use of 'The Firm' is causing such controversy

Relations between the palace and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear to be at their worst, with some commentators suggesting the current situation is reminiscent of the War of the Waleses in the early 1990s.

Royal author Penny Junor said: “It’s just such a mess. I don’t think there are going to be any winners in it.”

She told the PA news agency: “In a way it is another War of the Waleses.

“It is another example of this fractured family. They do seem to have a history of falling out.

“The War of the Waleses was obviously a marriage, but again it’s a member of the family feeling aggrieved and going public.”

Prince Charles' marriage to Princess Diana began to break down early in the relationship as Diana struggled to adapt to her new royal role.

Charles restarted an affair with his now wife Camilla, while Diana had an affair with cavalry officer James Hewitt.

Meghan told Oprah she found it liberating to talk to her without asking the palace first. (Harpo/CBS)
Meghan told Oprah she found it liberating to talk to her without asking the palace first. (Harpo/CBS)

Read more: How can I watch Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview in the UK?

A series of royal bombshells was started by the publication of the 1992 book Diana: Her True Story, by Andrew Morton, which she had secretly helped him write.

But then in 1993, after the royal separation, the Camillagate tape was leaked in which the prince was heard speaking intimately to Camilla.

Charles admitted adultery in an interview in 1994, and then Diana gave her own shock interview in 1995 with Martin Bashir, where she made the comment "there were three of us in the marriage".

The fallout from the interview, which airs late on Sunday evening in the US, is expected to continue into the week.

Oprah with Meghan and Harry is on CBS in the US on 7 March and on ITV on 8 March at 9pm in the UK.