Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with Prince William and Princess Kate appeared to collapse shortly after the Sussexes quit their royal roles.

William and Kate allegedly wanted a stronger response against Meghan’s allegations (Image: Getty)Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales were adamant about issuing a more forceful statement to counter Meghan Markle’s allegations of racism within the Firm, according to a royal commentator.

The infamous Oprah Winfrey interview split public opinion, with some applauding the Sussexes for telling their alleged side of the story, while others accused them of near-treasonous candour.

Following the sensational tell-all, the late Queen Elizabeth acknowledged the gravity of the situation with a rare statement: “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”

Royal expert Robert Jobson claimed in his book Catherine: The Princess of Wales that the couple wanted a much stronger rebuttal. He wrote: “The original draft of the statement had been much milder, but both William and Catherine had been keen to toughen it up.

“It was the then-Duchess of Cambridge herself who came up with the powerful phrase ‘recollections may vary’. Her husband also challenged the allegations, telling reporters, ‘We are very much not a racist family’. As far as William was concerned, Harry and Meghan’s behaviour was unforgivable, and they could no longer be trusted.”