sorry, can't do this. this is absolutely diabolical behaviour. with millions of children now back at school, government scientists warn of another surge in coronvirus infections, if lockdown is lifted too quickly. how's your mum doing? yeah, she's fine. all change for the bafta film award nominations, with the british film rocks a surprise frontrunner, as diversity leads the way. and a chunk of the rare meteor that lit up the skies over europe last week is found in a front garden in gloucestershire. good evening. buckingham palace has issued a statement following the interview with the duke and duchess of sussex that was broadcast last night. in it, the queen says she is saddened to learn just how challenging the last few years have been for the couple and said they will always be much loved members of the family. buckingham palace said the issues raised — particularly on race — are concerning. more than 11 million people in the uk watched the interview last night, in which prince harry and meghan spoke of a member of the royal family voicing concerns about the colour of their child's skin and they also complained of a lack of support. here's our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. from buckingham palace this evening, a statement about the sussexes�* tv interview from her majesty the queen. it reads... it amounted to just 61 words. the palace made it clear it would not be commenting further. earlier, while the palace was pondering its response to the sussexes�* interview, the daily business of the royal family continued pretty much as normal. the prince of wales was at a vaccination centre in northwest london. all normal, apart from the inevitable question... sir, can i ask, what did you think of the interview? ..whereupon there was a very sharp exit. the interview has now been seen around the world. 11 million tuned in in britain to hear meghan�*s claim to have been suicidal but ignored, and her assertion of a racial slur by a member of the family about her then—unborn baby. 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's born. what? meghan�*s estranged father thomas markle watched the interview on us television. what did he make of his daughter's claims? i don't think the british royal family are racist. | the thing about "what colour will the baby be?" _ or "how dark will the baby be?",j i'm guessing and hoping it isjust a dumb question from somebody. you know, it couldl just be that simple. it could be somebody i asked a stupid question. shock waves of harry and meghan�*s explosive interview with oprah... but as the interview dominates so much of the news, particularly in america, there are influential voices speaking up for meghan. the fact she did not get more support, that the reaction was, "let'sjust paper it over and pretend that it didn't happen or it will go away, just keep your head down," well, you know, this young woman was not about to keep her head down. this is 2021. the story is dominating the media here in britain, with sharp criticism from some who say there was a double standard in the way the press reported meghan. you have to draw conclusions from the way meghan was systematically criticised and attacked for things which other white members of the royalfamily could get away with. and so a sharply divided debate continues. was meghan the naive american who never understood the nature of being a british royal, or a huge potential asset who was wasted and wronged by an inflexible institution? and nick has more on that statement released by buckingham palace. it is conciliatory, it's reaching out to them, it's empathetic — "the whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been." but at the same time, it is gently challenging. theyjust push back very, very softly with this phrase "while some recollections may vary". well, you can be absolutely sure that they vary in the palace, but they're not actually saying that or trading word for word. it acknowledges the significance of the issues. they are concerning, they will be taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately — and that's very important to them. the family now want to take this away and deal with it as a family group. there is much hurt and anguish on both sides, as we can see. this is a family which is riven, really — father and son, brother and brother — and they will hope that this will now subside and that they do have the opportunity, the time and the space to sort this out themselves. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell there, and we will return to that statement from the palace shortly. but first, some breaking news this evening. and itv has announced that the presenter piers morgan has decided to leave good morning britain. media regulator ofcom said it had launched an investigation into the programme after receiving more than 41,000 complaints about mr morgan's comments about the duchess of sussex. that is more complaints than ofcom has received for any programme for almost 15 years. the itv announcement this evening follows controversy on this morning's programme when mr morgan stormed off set, when he was criticised by gmb's weatherman alex beresford. i understand that you don't like meghan markle. you've made it so clear a number of times on this programme, a number of times. and i understand that you've got a personal relationship with meghan markle, or had one, and she cut you off. she's entitled to cut you off if she wants to. has she said anything about you since she cut you off? i don't think she has, but yet you continue to trash her... ok, i'm done with this. no, no, no... sorry! do you know what? that's pathetic. no, no, no... see you later. sorry, can't do this. this is absolutely diabolical behaviour. piers morgan, in what now seems to be his last appearance on good morning britain. and that clip does highlight how deeply divided britons are over harry and meghan�*s interview. in a survey by yougov last night after the broadcast, 32% thought the couple had been treated fairly by the royal family, while another 32% thought they had been treated unfairly. 36% said they didn't know. the survey found a stark split via age group on the question of fairness. 13% of 18—24—year—olds thought harry and meghan had been treated fairly by the royal family. 61% of the same age group thought the couple had been treated unfairly, while 26% of 18—24 year—olds said they didn't know. looking at how those over the age of 65 responded to the same question, 50% thought the duke and duchess had been treated fairly by the royal family. 15% of the same age group thought the pair had been treated unfairly, while 35% of over—65s said they didn't know. i'm joined by omid scobie, co—author of new book finding freedom: harry and meghan and the making of a modern family. hello to you, thanks for being with us. that breakdown according to age, it seems to be, is quite interesting, isn't it? you've got a younger generation finding common cause, seeming to understand where the sussexes are coming from, yet in order generation not being able to do the same. order generation not being able to do the same-— order generation not being able to do the same. yeah, absolutely, and ethic we have _ do the same. yeah, absolutely, and ethic we have seen _ do the same. yeah, absolutely, and ethic we have seen over— do the same. yeah, absolutely, and ethic we have seen over the - do the same. yeah, absolutely, and ethic we have seen over the recentl ethic we have seen over the recent years harry and meghan have always been a pretty divisive couple in this country, but that division is usually found between different age groups, certainly younger people see the two individual who are really standing up to an ancient establishment that they found they could not thrive in. instead they choose to find their voices, speak their truth, and prioritise their family and well—being over the duty thatis family and well—being over the duty that is often what comes first for the royal family. that is often what comes first for the royalfamily. and then in stomach on the other side, you have an older generation of royal watcher that they turned their backs on the duty to the crown, they have seen a couple given the space to work and thrive in amongst the royal family and they do not take advantage of that, so we really get to hear from both sides. i think it will continue to be that way, certainly the interview with oprah did not seem to change opinions of many, but it will also be intrigued to see how things change now we have heard from the palace. change now we have heard from the alace. ., ., , ., change now we have heard from the alace. ., .,, ., , ., palace. yeah, it was a similar situation. _ palace. yeah, it was a similar situation, wasn't _ palace. yeah, it was a similar situation, wasn't it _ palace. yeah, it was a similar situation, wasn't it come - palace. yeah, it was a similar| situation, wasn't it come after palace. yeah, it was a similar- situation, wasn't it come after the death of diana and all the issues that were involved there? do you see this situation perhaps being more representative of the possibility of change within a very old institution, the royalfamily, in a way that perhaps diana's situation was not? i way that perhaps diana's situation was not? ~' ., �* way that perhaps diana's situation was not? ~ ., �* was not? i think i would've said that before _ was not? i think i would've said that before we _ was not? i think i would've said that before we received - was not? i think i would've said that before we received the - that before we received the statement today from the palace. i did wonder if this moment we are at, a sort of crossroads, could possibly be a catalyst for change. i was curious to see if they would be summative ownership of the accusations made by the couple, particular when it comes to race, or at least some kind of condemnation of racism in the statement. instead it was fairly light, shall i say? 61 words, it took a couple of days to put together, and even includes a sort of slate royal pushback with the reference to varying versions of events, so it is not quite the moment i had hoped with the statement, but it is clear the palace simply do not want to add fuel to the fire and are hoping they can do what they do best, which is keep calm and carry on. hand can do what they do best, which is keep calm and carry on.— can do what they do best, which is keep calm and carry on. and do you think they can _ keep calm and carry on. and do you think they can get _ keep calm and carry on. and do you think they can get away _ keep calm and carry on. and do you think they can get away with - keep calm and carry on. and do you think they can get away with that i think they can get away with that now? i think they can get away with that now? ~ . think they can get away with that now? ~' ., ., now? i think there are large sections _ now? i think there are large sections of _ now? i think there are large sections of society - now? i think there are large sections of society that - now? i think there are large sections of society that are l now? i think there are large - sections of society that are really troubled by the racist accusations made by harry and meghan. of course we don't know which family member is, in fact oprah winfrey wanted to make it clear prince harry said it was not prince william or prince philip, there are worries it will turn into a guessing game for people, but amongst those names in the family members are two, the next two in line to the throne, and i think in a way the public have a right to know at this point who that individual might be because, of course, it could have a huge... it could potentially cause a huge problem for the royal family if we find out that a future member of the royal family that sits on the throne is in fact, or has in fact said, racially insensitive comments. piers morn an, racially insensitive comments. piers morgan. you — racially insensitive comments. piers morgan, you appeared _ racially insensitive comments. piers morgan, you appeared with him on gmb on friday, i think it was. what is your response to him walking offset like that, and actually now leaving the channel completely? i like that, and actually now leaving the channel completely?— the channel completely? i mean, listen, the channel completely? i mean, listen. for _ the channel completely? i mean, listen. for a _ the channel completely? i mean, listen. for a guy _ the channel completely? i mean, listen, for a guy that _ the channel completely? i mean, listen, for a guy that has - the channel completely? i mean, listen, for a guy that has dished l listen, for a guy that has dished out for almost four years now, i'm surprised that he could not handle 90 seconds of criticism from colleagues on national television, but that tells you more about his character than anything else. listen, 41,000 people complained to ofcom about his comments, doubting meghan�*s mental health struggles, and for a network that really champions many mental health causes, i would imagine that this was not just his decision and that he would have been under a huge amount of pressure to at least make some kind of change or announcement today, and obviously we have seen that. sure. obviously we have seen that. sure, 0k, omid scobie, _ obviously we have seen that. sure, 0k, omid scobie, it _ obviously we have seen that. sure, 0k, omid scobie, it is _ obviously we have seen that. sure, 0k, omid scobie, it is good - obviously we have seen that. sure, 0k, omid scobie, it is good to - obviously we have seen that. sure, 0k, omid scobie, it is good to talk| ok, omid scobie, it is good to talk to you. thank you. well, opinion remains deeply divided after last night's interview. our home editor mark easton looks at how damaging the couple's revelations are to the royal family. exactly one year ago today, the queen attended the commonwealth day service at westminster abbey, harry and meghan�*s last royal engagement. "it's always inspiring to be reminded of the diversity of the people and countries that make up our worldwide family," the queen said, speaking as head of the commonwealth that day. "such a blend of traditions serves to make us stronger individually and collectively." but as the royals gathered in the abbey, there were hints of tensions and troubles to come. over the course of 70 years, the queen has guided the monarchy from empire to black lives matter. in the 21st century, she represents a uniting figurehead for people of all cultures. accusations of racism at the heart of the royal family could represent an existential threat for this ancient institution. now, if you look at social media, you're seeing very, very young people, young influencers, young thinkers, actually saying, "well, what is this institution? why does it exist?" they're questioning things that i've not seen them question before. this is an anachronism in this day and age, and notjust on the basis of race. we're certainly seeing lots of young black people having that conversation, but also young white people. archive: and the throne i passes to king edward viii's younger brother... today's crisis management at the palace contains echoes of the abdication crisis in 1936, when king edward viii gave up the throne to marry wallis simpson. like meghan, she was an american divorcee, an outsider who felt shunned by the royalfamily. the death of princess diana in 1997 also saw the royals accused of failing to support a young woman who they'd invited into their gilded cage, seemingly unable to understand public anger at her treatment and grief at her loss. now, the royal pr department is again firefighting accusations of a brand out of touch with contemporary attitudes and values. it represents notjust a symbol of historic oppression, but as we see with harry and meghan, the continued residue of the discrimination and racism that made british empire. a new yougov poll suggests a generational divide. four times as many 18—to—24—year—olds thought harry and meghan had been treated unfairly by the royal family compared with the over—65s. it suggests a looming challenge for the monarchy. while harry and meghan praised the queen in the interview, prince charles was portrayed as unsupportive and distant. repairing the reputational damage will require a response that reaches across notjust ethnicities but generations. mark easton, bbc news. as well as the many millions who watched the interview in the uk, over 17 million watched in the us. the interview also made headlines in commonwealth countries like canada. so has it changed perceptions about the royal family in that country? let's speak now to carolyn harris, a historian and author in toronto. good to see you. how has it gone down in canada, that interview? there has been a lot of critical scrutiny, directed towards the monarchy and specifically towards prince charles, as prince harry has stated that his father cut him off financially and was not returning his calls and one point, and i think there is interest in harry and meghan because they are the most recent example of a royal couple who spent an extended period of time in canada. they were there for around three months in early 2020, before moving to california, previously in canadian history, the herb and some other symbols of royals who have lived here for extended periods. in the 21st century, it is quite rare, and they attracted a lot of media attention when they're living on vancouver island. [30 attention when they're living on vancouver island.— attention when they're living on vancouver island. do you think there has been a real— vancouver island. do you think there has been a real impact _ vancouver island. do you think there has been a real impact on _ vancouver island. do you think there has been a real impact on sentiment| has been a real impact on sentiment towards the actual institution of the royalfamily? it towards the actual institution of the royal family?— the royalfamily? it certainly is important _ the royalfamily? it certainly is important to — the royalfamily? it certainly is important to differentiate - the royalfamily? it certainly is important to differentiate the l important to differentiate the constitutional monarchy as a system of government from the personal reputation of individual members of the royalfamily, so, certainly, there is some scrutiny taking place right now and debate and discussion regarding the interview and the very serious issues that it raised, but at the same time, there is this greater question of constitutional monarchy and its role in canada's future, canada's 116 monarchy and its role in canada's future, canada's116 commonwealth future, ca nada's 116 commonwealth realms future, canada's116 commonwealth realms who have this historic system of government. and it is quite interwoven into the fabric of canadian politics and history in law —— canada's one of 16. but canadian politics and history in law -- canada's one of 16.— -- canada's one of 16. but this issue, -- canada's one of 16. but this issue. this _ -- canada's one of 16. but this issue, this debate, _ -- canada's one of 16. but this issue, this debate, this - -- canada's one of 16. but this - issue, this debate, this controversy over race, as expounded by the sussexes in their interview, is that the kind of thing they could feed into republican sentiment in canada, do you think?— do you think? certainly, canada is a diverse, multicultural— do you think? certainly, canada is a diverse, multicultural society