Kate Middleton was reportedly the senior royal behind 'hardening up' the official response to Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle's claims of racism following their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
The controversial statement was released around the globe after it got given royal assent from the late Queen Elizabeth in response to the former working royals leaving the monarchy behind and sitting down for an exclusive chat with Oprah.
But according to a source, it was the future Queen Kate who added in the risky “some recollections may vary” line that made headlines, as the draft version allegedly didn't include it until she suggested it was added.
A palace insider spoke to Valentine Low in an updated edition of his book Courtiers, an excerpt of which was published by The Times, which claimed the original statement being discussed in royal circles had been "a much milder version"
Both Kate and her husband Prince William wanted Buckingham Palace's response to be "toughened up a bit," according to the source adding that "They were both of one mind that we needed something that said that the institution did not accept a lot of what had been said."
The phrase itself was reportedly coined by William’s then-new private secretary Jean-Christophe Gray, but once it featured in the draft it was Kate Middleton who allegedly ensured it was very much memorably at the focus of the official palace response.
In her news.com.au column, royal critic Daniela Elser said: "So, Kate the duchess a driving force, back that first draft went to the staffers who ably wield the macbooks and that iconic line - 'recollections may vary”'- was added in."
Princess of Wales Kate furthermore reportedly brushed aside emerging concerns that the phrase might "rile" the ex-working royals.
"It was Kate who clearly made the point, History will judge this statement and unless this phrase or a phrase like it is included, everything that they have said will be taken as true," a source revealed, adding that Kate doesn’t often get the full credit for her toughness "because she is so subtle about it."
They said: "She is playing the long game. She has always got her eye on, ‘This is my life and my historic path and I am going to be the Queen one day.’ ”
The full statement tackled the racism question head-on, reading: "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.
"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. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members."
Constitutional expert Vernon Bogdanor said that Meghan’s accusation of racism within the royal family had been “pretty wounding,” and the firm response which was spearheaded largely by Kate showed that the institution was in no mood for backing down.
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