Meghan Markle says she wasn't treated like a black woman until she first met Prince Harry.
The Duchess of Sussex's latest episode of her Spotify podcast Archetypes has dropped as she interviews legendary diva Mariah Carey.
She says things "shifted" once she started dating her 37-year-old husband back in June 2016.
The podcast, which overtook usual US frontrunner The Joe Rogan Experience as the number one podcast in its first 24 hours, features the former royal in conversation with several celebrities.
Speaking to songstress Mariah, the pair came together after finding their voice as mixed race women.
Mariah said: "I think for us it's so different because we're light-skinned, you're not treated as a black woman, you're not treated as a white woman, you sort of fit in between."
Meghan responded: “I mean if there’s any time in my life that it’s been more focused on my race, it’s only once I started dating my husband.
“Then I started to understand what it was like to be treated like a black woman, because up until then I had been treated like a mixed woman and things really shifted.”
Mariah, speaking of her life growing up in the southeastern New York State, continued: "Like the whole entire neighbourhood, this is very racist.
"No offence to anyone on Long Island who is not racist, but at that time, it was very difficult."
When the couple started dating, Prince Harry was forced to an issue a statement condemning 'the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web articles'.
It read: "Since he was young, Prince Harry has been very aware of the warmth that has been extended to him by members of the public. He feels lucky to have so many people supporting him and knows what a fortunate and privileged life he leads.
"He is also aware that there is significant curiosity about his private life. He has never been comfortable with this, but he has tried to develop a thick skin about the level of media interest that comes with it.
"He has rarely taken formal action on the very regular publication of fictional stories that are written about him and he has worked hard to develop a professional relationship with the media, focused on his work and the issues he cares about.
"But the past week has seen a line crossed. His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this has been very public - the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments.
"Some of it has been hidden from the public - the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life.
"Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm.
"He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game’. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game - it is her life and his."
The launch of Archetypes comes close to two years after Archewell Audio's partnership was Spotify was first announced.
Meghan and Harry signed a lucrative deal with the audio streaming giant to host and produce podcasts, estimated to be worth around £18million in late 2020.
