Eamonn Holmes has blasted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to do a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, branding it as just an ‘advert’.
The presenter, 61, gave his opinion on Tuesday’s This Morning, after it emerged the couple had recorded a 90-minute special with the legendary chat show host.
Speaking to royal correspondent Camilla Tominey and Nick Ferrari, Eamonn disputed the idea it was interview, and was instead a marketing tactic because Oprah, 67, ‘is a mate’.
Eamonn said: ‘Well, it’s not an interview really, is it? It’s an ad, really. I mean, Oprah’s a mate, Oprah was at her wedding.
Hitting out: Eamonn Holmes has blasted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to do a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, branding it as just an ‘advert’
‘Meghan’s mum stayed with Oprah at her home as a house guest. So it’s not an interview as such.’
Camilla replied: ‘Well, I don’t think she’s going to be throwing really difficult questions at Meghan and admittedly it’s going to be hugely sympathetic because, as you say, they’re friends.
‘Though interestingly, it’s been pointed out that they’d only met once before Oprah turned up at the royal wedding in Windsor castle in May 2018.
‘But yes, I think it’s going to be a soft soap kind of an interview.’
His say: The presenter, 61, gave his opinion on Tuesday’s This Morning after it emerged the couple had recorded a 90-minute special with the legendary chat show host (pictured 2017)
Opinion: Talking to royal correspondent Camilla Tominey and Nick Ferrari, Eamonn disputed the idea it was interview, and was instead a marketing tactic because Oprah, 67, ‘is a mate’
Eamonn has previously come under fire for his outspoken views on the royal couple.
Back in 2019, the presenter was reprimanded by ITV bosses for describing Meghan as ‘uppity’ because the term has racial connotations.
It followed a complaint from a viewer after Eamonn discussed an incident in which security personnel tried to stop tennis fans taking photos of the Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon.
The TV host said: ‘If you have an uppity attitude, you’re only through the door two minutes and suddenly you’re sitting at Wimbledon and your royal protection are saying, “No photographs, no photographs!”‘
Backlash: In 2019, Eamonn was reprimanded by ITV bosses for describing Meghan as ‘uppity’ because of the racial connotations
Under fire: It followed a complaint from a viewer after Eamonn discussed an incident in which security personnel tried to stop tennis fans taking photos of Meghan at Wimbledon (pictured)
The viewer complained to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, saying the word was racist.
The complainant also wrote to the TV network’s Head of Diversity, Ade Rawcliffe.
Historically, the word ‘uppity’ was used in the US in the 19th Century as an insult to black people who ‘didn’t know their place’.
Eamonn wasn’t aware of the word’s historical context and ITV defended the presenter, finding that his use of it had not been scripted, that the meaning of the word and its connotations had been explained to him, and that it wouldn’t be used in future.
It was confirmed on Monday night that Meghan, 39, had agreed to a ‘wide-ranging’ interview with Oprah, who is one of the most powerful women in US showbusiness.
Pictured: Oprah is a friend of Prince Harry and Meghan’s. Here she is pictured at their wedding in 2018
It is believed the programme has already been recorded.
The two women are friends and near neighbours in California, with Miss Winfrey attending the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018 and plugging a range of vegan lattes that Meghan has helped finance.
One source described the interview as ‘one of the most inevitable and, sadly, predictable consequences’ of the ‘Megxit’ saga.
Harry, 36, will also feature in the 90-minute show. It will air next month on CBS and the couple will discuss their move to the United States.
It will be the first time the pair have spoken publicly about their bombshell decision to leave Britain and step down from their working roles in the Royal Family.
It follows news that the couple are expecting their second child. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they were ‘overjoyed’ at their pregnancy, revealed on Valentine’s Day.
Expecting: It follows news that the couple are expecting their second child. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they were ‘overjoyed’ at their pregnancy
The decision to take part in the interview risks angering – and embarrassing – the Royal Family.
It could also widen the divisions between Harry and his brother, Prince William, and William’s wife, the Duchess of Cambridge.
The interview will be staged in two parts, with Meghan first speaking about everything from ‘stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work to how she is handling life under intense public pressure’.
She will then be joined by Harry and the couple will speak about their move last year and their future ‘hopes and dreams for their expanding family’.
Titled ‘Oprah With Meghan And Harry: A CBS Primetime Special’, the programme will air on March 7.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment about the interview, which will be aired six weeks before the Queen’s 95th birthday and in advance of celebrations for Prince Philip’s 100th.