The BBC has now turned its spotlight on Meghan Markle. Richard Eden from the Daily Mail reports that Michel Hussein, who interviewed Meghan and Harry right after their engagement, is pushing back against Meghan’s recent claims. Meghan suggested in her 2022 Netflix docuseries that the engagement interview was nothing more than an “orchestrated reality show.” She also criticized Hussein for not being warm or empathetic enough. Meghan had even expressed a preference for Oprah Winfrey to conduct the interview instead.
Fast forward to now, and Hussein has fired back. She expressed her bewilderment at Meghan’s accusations, stating that Meghan and Harry had clearly thought through their responses and knew exactly what they were saying during the interview. Hussein wrote in the August issue of Saga magazine that there was no indication of any trouble brewing. Instead, the interview showed two people full of joy and love.
When I first watched the interview, I saw the same thing—a happy couple basking in their engagement. The excitement and admiration from the public were palpable, with celebrations and street parties marking their wedding.
Following the release of Harry and Meghan’s docuseries, the BBC’s Director General at the time, Tim Davie, dismissed Meghan’s criticism, stating that it was untrue to claim the interview was staged. Hussein even borrowed a phrase from the late Queen Elizabeth’s response to Meghan’s earlier allegations of racism, saying, “Recollections may vary.” She emphasized that Meghan and Harry were very much in control during the interview and were genuinely happy.
Contrary to Meghan’s claims, Hussein argues that the interview was far from a scripted reality show. It was standard procedure for high-profile Royal engagements to include a BBC interview, as seen with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement.
Imagine if Meghan and Harry hadn’t had a BBC interview—imagine the outcry if they had been excluded while others received such attention. Meghan might have accused the Royal family of favoritism. It seems clear that Meghan’s revisionist take on the interview is less about truth and more about shifting narratives.