The royal family weren’t the only ones shocked by the inflammatory racism allegations made against them by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Acclaimed American playwright Michael R. Jackson says the couple’s allegations in their explosive interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey left him with doubts.
“On one level I could feel sorry for them, but I’m also skeptical about some of their claims,” Jackson tells me.
The couple claimed an unnamed royal had raised “concerns” about “how dark” their first child’s skin color would be while Meghan was pregnant with Archie.
“I found this interview deeply frustrating,” says Jackson, whose award-winning musical A Strange Loop has been relocated from Broadway to London’s Barbican. The show deals with racism in the USA. “When you’re talking about something as important as racism, you have to be specific,” he says, referring to the Sussexes’ interview.
He adds: “You always seem to say a lot, but at the same time very little.” . maybe they’re scared.’
RICHARD EDEN: Acclaimed American playwright Michael R. Jackson says the couple’s allegations in their explosive interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey left him with doubts
RICHARD EDEN: “On one level I could feel sorry for them, but I’m also skeptical about some of their claims,” Jackson tells me
Following her 2021 interview with Oprah, Queen Elizabeth issued a statement that included the memorable phrase that “memories can vary” when it came to her allegations of racism.
According to royal correspondent Valentine Low in the paperback edition of his book Courtiers, the Princess of Wales was said to have been even “harder as nails” than Prince William in crafting Buckingham Palace’s robust response. William’s anger at the claims was evident when he was subsequently publicly questioned about it. “We are by no means a racist family,” he told a TV reporter.
Jackson’s comments follow a series of public criticisms of the California-based couple. Last month, Meghan was dismissed as an untalented presenter by one of Hollywood’s most influential figures.
Jeremy Zimmer delivered his scathing verdict after streaming giant Spotify canceled its £18million deal with her and Harry. The chief executive of United Talent Agency said he wasn’t surprised that Spotify let the couple down.
“Turns out Meghan Markle wasn’t a huge audio talent, or necessarily any talent,” he said.
Meghan Markle hasn’t made it big in Hollywood, but that hasn’t stopped another royal from dedicating his heart to stardom.
I heard that Prince Achileas-Andreas of Greece and Denmark, whose sister Princess Olympia is King Charles’ goddaughter, has landed his first role in a feature film.
He is the grandson of King Constantine of Greece, a relative of Prince Philip who was banished from the country after the 1967 coup.
The 22-year-old aspiring actor, who goes by the professional name of Achi Miller, accompanies Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence in her fast-paced new film No Hard Feelings, in which her character attempts to seduce a neighbor. “Proud to have a small part in something so special,” says Achi.
He uses the maiden name of his London-born mother, Marie-Chantal Miller, who married Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece.
Achi, who grew up in the capital and studied at Wellington College in Berkshire, dates fashion kings: his girlfriend is Bella Massenet, daughter of Net-a-Porter founder Dame Natalie Massenet.
RICHARD EDEN: I heard that Prince Achileas-Andreas of Greece and Denmark, whose sister Princess Olympia is King Charles’ goddaughter, has landed his first role in a feature film.
Made In Chelsea star Kimberley Garner is revving up her love life.
The property developer’s daughter, 32, arrived at the Grand Prix Ball at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham, west London, with a mysterious new boyfriend she will only call ‘Andreas’. She explains their romance: “It’s very, very new.”
Andreas works in finance and tells me he misses the “crazy” no-budget nights before the 2008 financial crash.
“Those were the good days,” he jokes. “You can’t do that without HR these days – they took the fun out of you.”
RICHARD EDEN: The property developer’s daughter, 32, arrived at the Grand Prix Ball at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham, west London, with a mysterious new boyfriend she will only call ‘Andreas’.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has performed many wedding ceremonies but this week he was particularly pleased with one.
I heard he officiated the wedding of slain MP Jo Cox’s husband, who was killed seven years ago.
Brendan Cox, 44, exchanged vows with domestic violence activist Anna Ryder, 37, at Lambeth Palace on Tuesday. Cox asked his two children for permission before remarrying.
He said Cuillin, 12, and Lejla, 10, were delighted with the news as he admitted he “never thought” he would ever find love again, adding: “I’m incredibly happy that I found her.”
RICHARD EDEN: Brendan Cox, 44, exchanged vows with domestic violence activist Anna Ryder, 37, at Lambeth Palace on Tuesday
If Fiona Bruce continues like this, she could gain a reputation for being biased towards the Tories.
I have heard that the moderator of Question Time has broken the BBC Rules for the second time in five months.
After investigating a complaint about an episode in January, the company admitted this week that it had misled viewers by falsely claiming a graph showed there had been a “dramatic” drop in NHS funding have. In fact, it turned out that the funds had increased every year except for one.
“The Executive Complaints Unit concluded that this segment of the program did not meet BBC standards for reasonable accuracy and upheld the complaint in that regard,” it reads. In February, Bruce was found to have broken the BBC’s rules after she falsely claimed audiences wanted an immediate general election.
RICHARD EDEN: If Fiona Bruce continues like this, she could get a reputation for being biased towards the Tories
Just days after I announced that Sting’s child, Eliot Sumner, has split from society model Frankie Herbert, there is good news for The Police star’s family.
I heard Sting’s daughter, Fuschia Sumner, is engaged. The 41-year-old actress is set to marry Maximilian Wright.
“Super in love, super engaged, super happy,” is all Fuschia will say. Max gave her an impressive oval cut diamond ring.
Fuschia’s mother is Frances Tomelty, 74, the Northern Irish actress who was married to Sting until 1984. They split following the singer’s affair with actress Trudie Styler, who “happened” to be Tomelty’s best friend.
RICHARD EDEN: I heard Sting’s daughter, Fuschia Sumner, got engaged. The 41-year-old actress is set to marry Maximilian Wright
Bill Wyman left the Rolling Stones in 1992 but is still living in the fast lane.
The 86-year-old bass guitarist reveals he has been repeatedly fined for driving in 20mph speed zones. “I got killed twice for driving 22 mph and 26 mph,” Wyman wails. “I’ve paid fines and got three points on my driver’s license — same thing for driving 105mph on a freeway.” I mean, speeding 22mph?
“That’s the sad thing about what’s happening in London right now and it’s leading to more congestion and more pollution.”
He has offered compelling insights into the commercial machinations and personal foibles of everyone from Sir David Tang to Lord Lucan.
But at the age of 83, entrepreneur Algy Cluff ventured into new literary territory – he kept a diary. At the Turf Club, on the occasion of the publication of his fifth volume of observational memoirs, The Importance Of Being Algy, he declares that he has “exhausted his supply of anecdotes” and that keeping a journal will enable him to fulfill his ambition of writing a book each year fulfill.
Cluff, who will welcome Princess Anne to Dover later this month in his role as chairman of the Remembrance Trust, tells me he will be flying back and forth to Africa regularly with “a team of people – we’ve been asked to set up a facility.” for the manufacture of batteries using lithium.
No danger from Algy’s cocoa-and-slippers diary.
A meal in one of Simon Rimmer’s restaurants sounds like an unforgettable experience. “One of my chefs kind of said, ‘If you go out to eat and you don’t feel like having sex, it wasn’t a good meal,'” says Sunday Brunch star Rimmer.
“It’s about the feeling, ‘Wow, that was a sensual experience and I want to keep it that way.'” For me, having a salad and a glass of mineral water in a restaurant is not enough at all.’