what they have said? so what they have said? much reaction already, i will read so much reaction already, i will read some of your comments out in the next hour. message me on twitter and instagram, oryou can the next hour. message me on twitter and instagram, or you can e—mail. millions of pupils in england head back to school after two months learning at home during the lockdown. from today care home residents in england can have one regular visitor — they can meet indoors and hold hands. and two people from different households can now meet outside for recreation, which can include a coffee on a bench or a picnic. although it is a bit cold for that... good morning. the duchess of sussex has said she found life within the british royal family so difficult that at times she didn't want to be alive any more. in an interview with oprah winfrey, meghan markle said she did not get help when she asked for it. meghan also claimed there had been concern within the palace, before her son was born, about the colour of his skin. the interview with harry and meghan went out overnight in the us and will be shown on itv at 9pm tonight and on itv hub, courtesy of harpo productions. in the interview, meghan said that there were conversations — relayed to her by harry — about how dark her son's skin might be when he was born. meghan also revealed that she had suicidal thoughts, and "just didn't want to be alive any more". she said she became lonely after limits were put on the things she could do, and she didn't go out for months. prince harry said his family cut him off financially in the first part of 2020, and that's why the couple struck deals with netflix and spotify, so that they could afford security. meghan was also asked about her relationship with kate, the duchess of cambridge. newspaper stories had suggested meghan had made kate cry in the run—up to harry and meghan�*s wedding. meghan said actually the reverse was true, but the account in the media was never corrected. our royal correspondent daniela relph has this report. the duchess of sussex didn't hold back. she described a royal life of loneliness and isolation that left her in the darkest of places. so, were you thinking of harming yourself, were you having suicidal thoughts? yes, this was very, very clear. wow. very clear and very scary. and, you know, i didn't know who to even turn to in that. these are the thoughts that i'm having the middle of the night that are very clear, and i'm scared, because this is very real. this isn't some abstract idea, this is methodical, and this is not who i am. meghan described feeling unsupported by what she called the institution. the duke and duchess of sussex! she talked about this charity event in january 2019. she said just before leaving, she told her husband that she'd thought about taking her own life. she describes how the glamour on the outside hid the pain on the inside. wait, listen, did you hearthat? the interview was personal, revealing, and at times, shocking. she told oprah winfrey that her son archie's mixed race heritage was an issue. that when pregnant, someone within the palace questioned how her child would look. in those months when i was pregnant, all around this same time, so we have in tandem the conversation of, he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title. and also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he is born. what? and you're not going to tell me who had the conversation? i think that would be very damaging to them. the interview highlighted strained relations within the royal family. meghan said media reports claiming she made her sister—in—law, the duchess of cambridge, cry, were false. in fact, it was the other way round, she said, and kate had apologised. when harryjoined the conversation with oprah, he described how he felt both his brother and father were trapped within the royal family. of william, he said their relationship now needed space and he hoped it would heal. and he revealed a rift with his father. there's a lot to work through there. i feel really let down. because he's been through something similar. he knows what pain feels like. and this is... and archie's his grandson. but at the same time, of course, i will always love him. but there is a lot of hurt that's happened. there were lighter moments as well. the new baby is a girl, due in the summer. and life in california has brought the couple peace. this is, of course, one side of the story. but the interview is deeply critical of the royal family and its staff. it was a portrait of an institution unable or unwilling to help those struggling within it. daniela relph, bbc news. daniela is at buckingham palace. you said there it is one side of the story, is the palace going to say anything? it story, is the palace going to say an hinu ? , , story, is the palace going to say an hina? , , .,, story, is the palace going to say an hina? , , ._ ., story, is the palace going to say an hin? , , ._ ., ., anything? it is 'ust really hard to “udae, anything? it isjust really hard to judge. victoria- _ anything? it isjust really hard to judge, victoria. i'm _ anything? it isjust really hard to judge, victoria. i'm not- anything? it isjust really hard to judge, victoria. i'm not sure. - anything? it isjust really hard to | judge, victoria. i'm not sure. but anything? it isjust really hard to i judge, victoria. i'm not sure. but i judge, victoria. i'm not sure. buti think it is possible. a lot of the senior members of the royal family will not have watched this live overnight, so you can expect some of them to be given a briefing this morning. they will then have to have discussions in the royal household about whether this warrants some kind of response. there is so much to unpick inside this interview. a lot of it is also very personal. there are some things that theyjust won't address in any detail. but perhaps some of the more wider, institutional problems that meghan institutional problems that meghan in particular talked about, not being supported when she went to seek help, wanting that level of support to help her out of her isolation and help her mental health. that was not forthcoming, she said. could they perhaps address some of those more institutional issues around those areas, rather than more personal stuff? i think thatis than more personal stuff? i think that is possible. but i think this morning they will be looking at what has been said and trying to make a judgment call on whether it is worth responding, or referring to the position they often take, which is to say nothing at all. how damaging do ou to say nothing at all. how damaging do you think — to say nothing at all. how damaging do you think the _ to say nothing at all. how damaging do you think the claims _ to say nothing at all. how damaging do you think the claims are - to say nothing at all. how damaging do you think the claims are for- to say nothing at all. how damaging do you think the claims are for the l do you think the claims are for the royalfamily? i do you think the claims are for the royal family?— do you think the claims are for the royal family? i think some of them are really damaging. _ royal family? i think some of them are really damaging. we _ royal family? i think some of them are really damaging. we were - are really damaging. we were expecting this to be pretty explosive. we have seen all of those trailers to using it last week, which presented a fair bit of drama coming our way, and we were told that the interview would have nothing off limits. but i think it has gone much further than any of us expected. those uncomfortable questions asked about what archie would look like, how darker skin would look like, how darker skin would be when he was born. the questions around meghan feeling like she could take her own life, trying to seek help from palace officials. she said in interview she went to human resources at the palace and said, can you help me, and they said, can you help me, and they said, no, this is your lot, this is what comes with being a member of the royalfamily and what comes with being a member of the royal family and you have to navigate your way through this. why was she not given the extra level of support that she said just did not come to her. so, those kind of allegations will be really damaging. you know, you can't help but hark back to the interview that harry's mother diana did, her own big tv interview, where she also talked about loneliness, isolation, not being supported, more than 25 years on these are the same issues being raised again. on these are the same issues being raised again-— raised again. thank you very much, daniela. raised again. thank you very much, daniela- let's _ raised again. thank you very much, daniela. let's talk _ raised again. thank you very much, daniela. let's talk to _ raised again. thank you very much, daniela. let's talk to our _ raised again. thank you very much, daniela. let's talk to our north - daniela. let's talk to our north america correspondent, david willis. what is the reaction in the states? twitter has lit up, as you can well imagine. opinions very much divided. some people expressing sympathy for the couple, others calling for them to be stripped of their titles, duke and duchess. it would be, of course, the queen's decision on whether that happens. but we are expecting more from oprah winfrey, more on this story in a few hours' time. oprah winfrey is going to appear on the cbs morning show, with perhaps more clips from the interview that have not so far been shown. but a lot of people are aghast, i think it is fair to say. peoplejust people are aghast, i think it is fair to say. people just blindsided ljy fair to say. people just blindsided by some of those revelations, the bombshell revelations, many of which we featured on this programme throughout the morning. i have to say, they are being chewed over here, perhaps as avidly, perhaps as eagerly, perhaps in such forensic detail as they are about to be by the press there in the uk. fiur detail as they are about to be by the press there in the uk. our views about meghan _ the press there in the uk. our views about meghan is _ the press there in the uk. our views about meghan is polarised _ the press there in the uk. our views about meghan is polarised in - the press there in the uk. our views about meghan is polarised in the - about meghan is polarised in the states as they are in this country? or do they love her because she is one of their own? i or do they love her because she is one of their own?— one of their own? i think it is fair to say they _ one of their own? i think it is fair to say they love _ one of their own? i think it is fair to say they love her. _ one of their own? i think it is fair to say they love her. she - one of their own? i think it is fair to say they love her. she is - one of their own? i think it is fair to say they love her. she is one | one of their own? i think it is fair. to say they love her. she is one of their own, she is, of course, a child of the city, los angeles. she grew up yeah, she talked about working at humphrey yoghurt, one place that has appeared quite a few times on twitter this morning, as you can imagine. i think there is a feeling that she brings a diversity to the royal family that americans really recognise, really warm to. they love the royals here, of course. a lot of them struggle to understand the misgivings, the rancour and disputes that go on. that might explain why so many of them watched the crown so often. it is armchair viewing here and a lot of them can't get enough of it. oprah winfrey did ask harry and meghan if they watched the crown, and they were quite coy about it and said, yes, we have watched some. chris on twitter says i expect this will be the new brexit in dividing the country along the same lines. party girl says these two need a reality check, i'm sorry, i have no sympathy. john says is what prince andrew is accused of doing ok, and the mixed parentage of meghan not ok? and rhiannon says this kind of rubbish goes on in most families, just in a grander scale. saying he was cut off financially when he inherited millions from his mum does him no favours, especially what is going on in the world. i will read some more of those in the next couple of hours. children's minister vicky ford was asked for her reaction to meghan's comments that prince harry had been asked about how dark their baby's skin would be. you know, obviously i haven't seen the interview, because i wasn't up at one o'clock this morning. i was getting ready for schools coming back today. but i would say there is no place for racism in our society, and we all need to work together to stop it. let's talk to broadcastjournalist and writer afua adom. so many bombshell claims. let's talk about the suggestion that somebody at the palace talked about how dark archie's skin would be. what did you think about that? i archie's skin would be. what did you think about that?— think about that? i was shocked at this claim, — think about that? i was shocked at this claim, but _ think about that? i was shocked at this claim, but after _ think about that? i was shocked at this claim, but after i _ think about that? i was shocked at this claim, but after i heard - think about that? i was shocked at this claim, but after i heard it - think about that? i was shocked at this claim, but after i heard it i - this claim, but after i heard it i realised i was not surprised. this kind of insidious racism is prevalent in the uk, and sadly within the royal household. i think the questions over whether... how dark archie's skin would be, they are frankly just disgusting, dark archie's skin would be, they are franklyjust disgusting, and completely unnecessary, and so damaging. you know, meghan also talked about how they decided when meghan was pregnant, apparently there was a new decree that archie would not be a prince, and therefore he would not have the same protection. and she didn't say those two things are connected, despite what some newspaper headlines might tell you this morning, she didn't say there two things are connected. but i think they could be. and i think there was a decree made when she was pregnant, because this child was going to be of mixed race descent. perhaps theyjust didn't want archie to be a prince? they didn't want him to be a proper part of the royalfamily. so, he was othered even before he was born. this was a prime opportunity, missed by the royalfamily, to bring a mixed—race mother and this child and the family and reach out to millions of people to be properly inclusive. and it was absolutely mixed and it was trashed. and it was absolutely mixed and it was trashed-— was trashed. some people have su: rested was trashed. some people have suggested that _ was trashed. some people have suggested that by _ was trashed. some people have suggested that by not _ was trashed. some people have suggested that by not naming i was trashed. some people have i suggested that by not naming the individual who had that conversation, it damages every member of the royal family and everybody who works for the institution. meghan didn't say it was someone in the royal family. institution. meghan didn't say it was someone in the royalfamily. she didn't say it was one of the aides either. is that something she should have done, or was that enough? think that was enough. _ have done, or was that enough? think that was enough. i _ have done, or was that enough? think that was enough. i think— have done, or was that enough? in “ya; that was enough. i think there was an inference that it was somebody quite close to them, somebody quite influential. i don't want to speculate on who that was, and know did she. i think if she had named the person, it would be very damaging. ithink the person, it would be very damaging. i think the claims alone are damaging enough, what was said alone was damaging enough and clearly very hurtful to them. i think naming a person would not have made a difference. there is a lot of speculation on social media of who it was, but i think she did the right thing by saying those claims are out there, that conversation was had with harry, and how we relate it to her. she spoke her truth and talked about it, and talked about how hurtful it was. i talked about it, and talked about how hurtful it was.— talked about it, and talked about how hurtful it was. i want to read the full quote _ how hurtful it was. i want to read the full quote from _ how hurtful it was. i want to read the full quote from her _ how hurtful it was. i want to read the full quote from her about - how hurtful it was. i want to read the full quote from her about herj the full quote from her about her suicidal thoughts. the full quote from her about her suicidalthoughts. she the full quote from her about her suicidal thoughts. she said she had contemplated it, she had contemplated it, she had contemplated taking her own life. she said this. i remember how harry just cradled me. i went to the institution and i said that i needed to go somewhere to get help. i said that i had neverfelt to go somewhere to get help. i said that i had never felt this way before. i need to go somewhere. i was told i couldn't, because it wouldn't be good for the institution. what do you think of that? �* , ,., , institution. what do you think of that? ~ y, institution. what do you think of that? ~ y , ., that? absolutely shocking. someone who was suffering _ that? absolutely shocking. someone who was suffering so _ that? absolutely shocking. someone who was suffering so badly _ that? absolutely shocking. someone who was suffering so badly with - who was suffering so badly with their mental health that they consider taking their own life, she said the words i didn't want to be alive any more. she said she was ashamed to tell her husband that, knowing how much loss he had already gone through. and then when she told him, he was ashamed to talk about it as well, because he didn't know how they would handle that. for her to go to the institution, her her advisers, palace staff, she even went to human resources. that's true, went to human resources. that's true. she — went to human resources. that's true, she did. _ went to human resources. that's true, she did. let _ went to human resources. that's true, she did. let me _ went to human resources. that's true, she did. let me read - went to human resources. that's true, she did. let me read that l true, she did. let me read that quote. true, she did. let me read that uuote. �* , true, she did. let me read that tuote.�* , , true, she did. let me read that auote.�* , , �* ., true, she did. let me read that uuote. , , ., quote. because she wasn't a paid employee. _ quote. because she wasn't a paid employee, there _ quote. because she wasn't a paid employee, there was _ quote. because she wasn't a paid employee, there was nothing - quote. because she wasn't a paid | employee, there was nothing that they could do. i employee, there was nothing that they could do-_ they could do. i went to human resources. _ they could do. i went to human resources, she _ they could do. i went to human resources, she said, _ they could do. i went to human resources, she said, i- they could do. i went to human resources, she said, i didn't. they could do. i went to human l resources, she said, i didn't even know that buckingham palace had an hr department, but i suppose that makes sense. she said, i need help. they said, my heart goes out to you, i see how bad it is, but there is nothing we can do to protect you because you are not a paid employee. which is heartless?— which is heartless? completely heartless- _ which is heartless? completely heartless. imagine _ which is heartless? completely heartless