According to a new book, ”Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown,” by Valentine Low, Kate Middleton had a big part in the British royal family’s response to Prince Harry and Meghan’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. 

It says that Middleton championed the use of the phrase “some recollections may vary” in the official statement to bolster its stance. She thought that retaining the phrase would leave a lasting impression on historical records and counteract the acceptance of the Prince Harry and Meghan’s version of events as an absolute truth.

The initial royal response to the interview, which included accusations such as remarks on baby Archie’s skin color, used a milder form of the ‘recollections’ phrase. However, Low indicates that both Middleton and Prince William felt the institution should firmly express its divergence from several of the interview’s claims.

Low’s book portrays Middleton as a mindful strategist, aware of her future role as Queen. The phrase in question is credited to Jean-Christophe Gray, Prince William’s private secretary, but some opine it was Sir Clive Alderton’s creation. The book also discloses that Queen Elizabeth chose to view the Oprah interview on ITV prior to making any remarks.

In the interview, Meghan shared that she was “silenced” by the royal institution and left unsupported during a mental health crisis. The royal family expressed sorrow over the struggles endured by Harry and Meghan in its response and promised to address the issues, particularly those involving race, privately. The statement emphasized that Harry, Meghan, and Archie were much-loved family members. Oprah later clarified that Prince Harry did not say that Queen Elizabeth or Prince Philip were the ones who commented on Archie’s skin color.