MEGHAN Markle was offended by a blackamoor brooch worn by Princess Michael of Kent to a Christmas lunch, new biography Finding Freedom claims.
The Duchess felt the pin of an African man “sent a message” and was “insensitive to her African American roots” and the racism she faced after going public about her relationship with Prince Harry.
Princess Michael sparked fury by wearing the “racist” symbol to the Queen’s annual festive lunch in 2017, where she met Meghan for the first time.
The royal, who is married to the Queen’s cousin Prince Michael, was forced to apologise and was said to be “distressed that it had caused offence”.
Finding Freedom, out today, claims Meghan wondered if the brooch, of black man wearing a gold turban, was “sending a message”.
Co-authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim Princess Michael’s choice of brooch was “at the bare minimum” an “insensitivity to Meghan’s African American roots and the racism she had encountered since pairing up with Harry.”
The authors write: “When it comes to royal fashion, much thought goes into every detail.
“Princess Michael’s choice of brooch could have simply been a mistake, but in the back of Meghan’s mind, she wondered if there wasn’t a message being sent in the pin of the torso of an African man wearing a gold turban and ornate clothing.”
Finding Freedom claims revealed today include:
- Harry felt like he and Meghan were ‘thrown under the bus’ to protect the royal family
- Meghan felt people wanted her to serve her child “on a silver platter” after Archie was born
- The Sussexes had to let go of Archie’s nanny in the middle of her second shift
- Prince Harry was “delightfully surprised” when Meghan reportedly peed in the wood on their luxury camping trip in Botswana
- Harry was stunned after Meghan’s estranged family gave a series of interviews criticising the duchess
- Meghan had to undergo kidnapping training after an unusually high number of threats
- She fell for Prince Harry after seeing him play with pal Jessica Mulroney’s kids
- The Duchess of Sussex saw Prince Charles as a ‘second father’
Blackamoor is a style of artwork dating back to the 1700s, usually found in sculpture, jewellery and textiles.
Black men and women are often depicted as slaves and blackamoor is now considered to have racist connotations.
Scobie and Durand say Meghan felt Prince Michael’s apology for wearing the symbol came too late as “the damage had been done”.
The authors write: “Regardless, the damage had been done, particularly since the Queen’s purpose had been to make Meghan, who had just moved to England, feel at home for the holidays.”