Oprah Winfrey is best known for her groundbreaking talk show career and continued work as a media mogul and interviewer. The TV legend gave an explosive interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2021, shortly after they stepped back from royal life and moved their family from England to California. Now, Winfrey relives the most viral and memorable moment from the landmark conversation, which resonated globally and became one of the most quoted moments in the interview.According to Vanity Fair , the most significant exchange in the lengthy interview was Meghan talking about “remaining silent” about her time with the royal family. “I have always valued independence. I have always been very outspoken, especially on women’s rights,” the Duchess of Sussex said at the time. “I mean, the sad irony of the last four years is that I’ve been advocating for women to have their voices for so long. And then, I stayed silent.“
The Sussexes’ landmark TV interview remains one of the most closely watched royal conversations in recent years. Image source (Instagram)
Oprah Winfrey’s iconic ‘Silence or Silence’ question goes viralOprah memorably answered one of the interview-defining clarifying questions: “Are you mute or mute?” The exchange became one of the interview’s most quoted and discussed moments, resonating with audiences around the world and sparking important conversations about Meghan’s experience in the royal family. “The latter,” Meghan replied, confirming her belief that she was being prevented from speaking rather than choosing to remain silent.Winfrey mimicked the gesture she made when asking a pointed question. “I don’t know where the hell that came from. I don’t think I’ve done it since,” she admitted with a laugh. She then reflected on why Meghan is now being asked to clarify her statement. “I want to clarify, because was she silenced? Was she told not to speak?” Winfrey explained. “I say that to clarify, because I don’t want to hear later, ‘Well, no, it’s not like that. It was indeed me who was silent. They didn’t let me talk. So this is all for clarification. ” Her explanation demonstrates her journalistic instincts and desire to ensure accuracy and clarity in the history of the conversation.
Oprah Winfrey is looking back on the question that became one of the defining moments of her 2021 interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Image source (Instagram)
Oprah Winfrey explains her approach to 2021 interviews“Obviously, they didn’t know anything I was going to ask them, but I told them ahead of time, ‘I’m going to try to cover everything,'” Winfrey recalled of her preparation for the interview. “This interview took three and a half hours. As is always the case with me, I want this to be a win-win for you. So I just wanted to go through everything that happened.” Her comments highlighted the intentional and thoughtful approach she took to her conversations with the couple, setting the stage for the candid revelations that followed.The coastal town of Montecito, where Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, are now neighbors with Winfrey, 72, was the setting for the landmark interview, in which the couple opened up about their reasons for leaving royal life.
Other explosive moments and ongoing Royal relations are tense
Other explosive moments from the interview included the couple revealing there were “concerns and conversations” within the royal family about the birth of their first child, Prince Archie, and how dark his skin color might be. The 2021 interview also hinted at a rift between Prince Harry and his brother Prince William that continues to this day. More than five years later, the brothers still have no contact, although Harry’s recent visit to the UK marked the first step toward reconciliation with King Charles, with sources noting a “better relationship” between father and son.