Orange chief: ‘I do not believe for a moment Royal Family is racist’

The interview saw a number of contentious claims aired, including the suggestion that there had been an internal family discussion – bearing negative overtones – about the colour of the couple’s baby’s skin.

In a transcript of the interview published by The Sun newspaper, Meghan had said of her son Archie: “When I was pregnant [there were] concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born...”

Oprah said: “Because they were concerned that if he were too brown, that that would be a problem? Are you saying that?”

Meghan replied: “If that’s the assumption you’re making, I think that feels like a pretty safe one.”

Staunch royalist Mr Gibson said: “I think on a personal level I think there’s a certain amount of sadness for the couple, but my full support would be with Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family.

“A lot of what was said, there was no context given to it, so people are putting their own spin on it. “

He noted that the Queen is “a massive supporter of the Commonwealth, as are the other members of the royal family” – and that the group of nations includes people of widely-varying races, including those from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and 16 African nations, plus Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and other south-east Asian territories (as well as the Caribbean, the Antipodes, and elsewhere).

“I don’t believe for a moment that the royal family are institutionally racist,” Rev Gibson said.

“I think her majesty will still be as popular as ever.

“The Royal Family, they’ve had difficulties to deal with before. Some people are making [this] into a major difficulty. I don’t see it’s a major difficulty.”

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