Oprah, Gayle King support Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan '1,000 percent' amid royal exit
Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are continuing to make their support for Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry known.
Speaking Tuesday to TMZ, Winfrey, 65 — a friend to Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, who is collaborating with them on a series about mental health for AppleTV+ — said she supported the couple's decision to step back from their royal duties "1,000 percent."
“You know why I support them?" she said. "I support them because I believe, when you have thought about this as long as they have ... these discussions have been going on for months — and when Harry said in that charity statement the other day he had to make the decision to move forward in peace with his new family, who doesn’t feel what that takes to make that decision to give up everything you’ve known your whole life to say, 'I’m going to choose this new life or what I believe to be the truest vision for myself?' Who are any of us to stand in judgement of that?”
Winfrey added: “He did what he needed to do for his family. I don’t think anybody has any right to say anything. When a person has thought what is the best decision to make for my family and then he makes that decision — none of us have any right to say anything about that.”
King, who attended Duchess Meghan's baby shower last February, concurred.
“They didn’t make the decision in a vacuum," King, 65, said. "There were a lot of conversations. That’s why I thought it was very unfair to say the Queen was blindsided. Even the Queen’s own statement said these conversations have been going on for months.”
More: Prince Harry says he feels 'great sadness' over stepping back in first speech since decision
After a summit with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry and several members of the royal family, Buckingham Palace announced Jan. 18 that Harry and Meghan would stop using their HRH titles (His Royal Highness, Her Royal Highness) as they are "no longer working members of the Royal Family."
"Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," the Queen said in a statement.
The New York Post reported earlier this month that Winfrey encouraged the couple to "break free" of the royals and build their own "brand" in North America. But Winfrey issued a statement to the "Today" show shortly after, denying she had anything to do with the decision.
"Meghan and Harry do not need my help in figuring out what’s best for them,'' Winfrey said in her statement. "I care about them both and support whatever decisions they make for their family."
Winfrey and King have a history of defending the former actress. Last April, King told Entertainment Tonight at a media event that she didn't think the duchess was "being treated fairly."
"I don't. I think she is sweet, she is loving, she is kind," King added. "She's extremely generous with her time and her spirit, and I wish we heard more about that."
Earlier in the day, King, talked with longtime friend Oprah Winfrey about how the new royal is handling all the gossip on that morning's episode of "CBS This Morning."
"I think she's being portrayed unfairly," Winfrey remarked while discussing her upcoming partnership with Prince Harry on a mental health documentary series for Apple. The TV icon attended the couple's wedding last May and has previously hung out with Markle's mother, Doria Ragland.
"I feel that if people really knew her, they would know that she is not only everything we perceive of her as being graceful and dynamic in holding that position, but she just has a wonderful, warm, giving, loving heart," Winfrey continued. "I see all the crazy press around her and I think it's very unfair."
Contributing: Maria Puente and Morgan Hines, USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Duchess Meghan, Prince Harry exit: Oprah supports them '1000 percent'
