Queen 'won't watch Meghan Markle and Harry Oprah interview "circus" but will be briefed on the comments after breakfast'

THE QUEEN won't watch Harry and Meghan's "circus" interview with Oprah Winfrey but will reportedly be briefed on their comments after breakfast.

Palace aides are understood to have been given a link that will allow them to watch the interview, which airs in the US tonight.

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They will then give the Queen a breakfast briefing tomorrow over comments made by Meghan and Prince Harry, Mail Online reports.

Prince Charles is also expected to receive a report as he spends lockdown with the Duchess of Cornwall at Highgrove in Gloucestershire.

The Queen, 94, will ignore the interview to show the Royal Family is “focusing on the big issues”, a source told The Sunday Times.

She will also have several engagements in the coming days to make it clear “where the focus is”.

The source said: “You will see next week Her Majesty has quite a few things going on. I don’t think anyone should expect Her Majesty to stay up and watch the interview. She won’t.”

They added: “The mood in the family is: can everyone just shut the hell up and can we just get on with the day job.”

'SIDESHOW'

A global TV audience of hundreds of millions in 70 countries is expected to watch the two-hour interview, initially broadcast in the US at 1am UK time.

ITV will show it tomorrow at 9pm.

Courtiers have branded it a “circus” and warned they will retaliate with fresh revelations about the couple’s behaviour if they attack the monarchy.

Aides have also dismissed the interview as a "sideshow" and believe Brits are more concerned with the Covid jab and schools reopening tomorrow.

Palace officials accused Harry and Meghan of being “at war” with the royal household and said that if the couple attack any individuals in the interview, courtiers “will come out swinging”.

This week, a source told The Times that the Duchess of Sussex drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of a third.

The Palace launched an investigation into the allegations, releasing a statement saying they were "very concerned" at the claims.

'BIG ISSUES'

A royal source with knowledge of the allegations said: “The actual worst incidences haven’t come out.

“There are some harrowing stories to tell. I’ve had some teary conversations with people this week.”

Bust-ups between the Duchess of Sussex and her aides during the royal tour of Australia are set to be the focus of the Buckingham Palace bullying probe, a source said.

The 16-day trip in 2018 is said to have seen a string of clashes between Meghan and staff.

A source said: “The Australia tour is one of the most important in the royal world but there have long been allegations of rows with staff.

“If these assistants come forward it will form the centre of the Palace’s bullying probe. It was a critical time.”

However, a spokesman for the Sussexes denied allegations of bullying, saying that Meghan is committed to supporting people who have experienced trauma and works to “build compassion around the world”.

Meghan's spokesman said: “The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.

“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”

Senior Royals have reportedly urged for “calm amid the storm” ahead of the bombshell interview in which nothing will be “off limits”.

Royal aides are braced for Meghan to expose her rift with Kate in the interview, as they fear new disclosures will also deepen tensions between Prince Harry and his brother William.

A source said: “If she has chosen to speak candidly about her time with Kate then the damage that could be done to the monarchy is vast.

“She has the power to lay bare just how bad things really were between her, Harry, William and Kate.”

Sources said members of the Royal Family including Prince Charles and Prince William have agreed they will “reserve judgement” until they have watched the whole clip.

Earlier this week, Oprah was accused of painting the Queen as a “mafia boss” after a preview of the interview showed her asking Meghan if she was “silent or silenced” in the Royal Family.

But royal experts said the claim is “ridiculous” and unfairly paints the Queen as a mob boss like Don Corleone from The Godfather.

Robert Jobson, a biographer of Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh, said the trailer was packed with “over the top, melodramatic nonsense”.

Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey is to be screened in the US on Sunday night and in the UK on ITV on Monday at 9pm.

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