Gayle King claims Meghan Markle has ‘plenty of receipts’ to back up racism allegations

Prince William denied racism allegations Thursday, telling reporter: ‘We are very much not a racist family’

Gayle King has suggested that Meghan Markle has “plenty of receipts” to back up the claims the Duchess of Sussex made during her two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey, which included allegations of racism.

During the wide-ranging conversation, which first aired Sunday on CBS, the duchess told the former talk-show host that, when she was pregnant with her and Prince Harry’s son Archie, there were conversations raised by an unnamed family member about “how dark” the child’s skin would be and “what that would mean or look like”.

“In those months when I was pregnant ... we have in tandem the conversation of ‘He won’t be given security. He’s not going to be given a title,’ and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born,” she said during the interview.

Prince Harry later confirmed he had been aware of conversations about his unborn child’s skin colour, but said that he would not reveal more details of the conversation nor would he say which family member had raised the question.

Following the interview, Buckingham Palace released a statement in which the Queen said the “issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning” and while “some recollections may vary,” they would be “taken very seriously” and “addressed by the family privately”.

Read more: Gayle King claims Oprah didn’t know interview with Meghan and Harry was ‘blowing up’

On Thursday’s episode of CBS’ This Morning, King, a close friend of Winfrey’s, defended Meghan’s allegations while speaking specifically about the claims related to racism.

“I think Meghan has plenty of receipts, meaning that she’s been keeping track of things,” the 66-year-old said.

The morning show host also said that “all you need to do is look at the headlines,” referencing one tabloid headline that reportedly said the duchess was “straight out of Compton and that her mother was from the wrong side of the tracks, with dreadlocks”.

King’s comments come after Meghan’s friend of 17 years Janina Gavankar made similar suggestions during an appearance on Britain’s This Morning, where she said that while the palace’s “recollections may vary, ours don’t, because we lived through it with them”.

“After reading this short statement that came out from Buckingham Palace today, I felt two things,” Gavankar said, according to People. “One side, I thought: I am so thankful that they are finally acknowledging the experience.

“But on the other side, I know that the family and staff were well aware of the extent of it, and though their recollections may vary, ours don’t, because we lived through it with them. And there are many emails and texts to support that.”

During Wednesday’s episode, Gavankar also defended Meghan from bullying claims, telling the hosts: “I have known her for 17 years and I have seen the way she regards the people around her and the people she works with, and I can say she is not a bully. But I can also say that I am personally glad people are doing their due diligence because I also know why someone had to leave, and it was for gross misconduct.”

The 40-year-old then said the “truth will come out” before reiterating that there are “plenty of emails and texts about that”.

On Thursday, Prince William refuted the accusations of racism by the royal family, telling a Sky News reporter: “We are very much not a racist family.”