Labour MP Holly Lynch has spoken to American network CBS about the ongoing debate around the UK tabloid media’s treatment of Meghan Markle.

Miss Lynch, who organised a letter of solidarity for Meghan in 2019, said: “There is a real sense she was an outsider, that she wasn’t good enough for our Royal Family.

“Just a constant constant tearing down of her character.”

A senior royal adviser ignored Meghan Markle when she wanted to challenge reports made by the tabloids that she made Kate Middleton cry in 2018.

According to the co-author of Finding Freedom, a biography of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Cambridge’s aide rebuffed Miss Markle’s attempts to set the record straight because they did not want her to be dragged into “idle gossip” by the newspapers.

Josh Marcus has the full report

Sharing a lengthy statement on Twitter, Alex Beresford said: “There is so much that could be said. Piers’ departure sincerely wasn’t the conclusion I was hoping for.

“Over the last few years, Piers and I have had a lively, cheeky on-air relationship. We both wanted to be on the show Tuesday morning, and from our very public conversations on Twitter, we both knew how strongly our opinions differed on the treatment of Harry and Meghan pre and post the interview that has split the world.

“I hoped we could reach a place of understanding. It’s sad that we weren’t able to get there, but challenging his opinion was not an outrage. On this occasion, we have to agree to disagree.

“I didn’t want him to quit, but I did want him to listen.

“Personally, Piers has always supported my growth. He’s given me advice on several occasions and for that I am grateful. I wish him well!”

Sharon Osbourne has been accused of “weaponising” her tears after emotionally defending Piers Morgan, who quit Good Morning Britain on Tuesday after making widely-criticised comments about Meghan Markle’s mental health.

Appearing on The Talk on Wednesday (10 March), Osbourne became defensive as she explained her support for Morgan to co-host Sheryl Underwood.

Osbourne later burst into tears leading people on social media to accuse the former X Factor judge of “gaslighting” her co-star.

Isobel Lewis and Mayank Aggarwal report

Following the Duke of Cambridge’s statement that the royal family “is very much not a racist family”, there have been mixed reactions from the general public.

Some have praised William for his measured response - while others said whether or not the family is racist is not for him to decide.

Nearly two days after Harry and Meghan’s interview aired in the UK, Buckingham Palace issued a four-sentence long response on behalf of the Queen.

The statement - comprised of just 64 words - sent the message that the Palace would not be drawn into a war of words, and instead, have used as few as possible in an attempt to diffuse any further debate.

Victoria Murphy analyses the response and what we should take from it:

Sir Keir Starmer has said the allegations made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their Oprah interview were a “matter now for the [royal] family” to resolve.

The Labour leader said earlier this week that Meghan and Harry’s claims of racism and lack of support when she had suicidal thoughts must be taken “very, very seriously”.

Adam Forrest reports:

Prince William has said he has not yet spoken to his brother since the explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired in the UK on Monday.

Asked by a reporter on his way out from a school visit today if he had, William said: “No, I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I will do.”

During the interview, the Duke of Sussex said his relationship with William was now one of “space”, but hoped that “time heals all things”.

“As I said before, I love Wiliam to bits. We’ve been through hell together and we have a shared experience, but we are on different paths,” he told Ms Winfrey.

Today, William and Kate toured School21 in Stratford, east London, to mark the return of children to classes this week.

The visit was also to mark the rollout of a mental health project Kate launched in primary schools in 2018 that is now going to be expanded to secondary schools.

Prince William has defended the royal family against allegations made by Harry and Meghan, saying they are “very much not a racist family”.

His comments came during a visit to an east London school, the first time William and Kate Middleton have been seen in public since the interview earlier this week.

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