Buckingham Palace has issued its first statement following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday.

The interview featured major allegations against the royal family. Meghan accused the institution of failing to support her when her mental health deteriorated and even accused the family of racism, stating there were conversations about how dark her and Harry’s baby’s skin would be at birth.

It was only a matter of time before the royals acknowledged the interview. While it was televised on Sunday in the United States, the interview didn’t air until Monday evening in Britain.

In the statement, Queen Elizabeth says, “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.” 

The statement also addressed the troubling allegations the pair made against certain members of the royal family.

“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning,” the statement continued. “Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan, and [their son] Archie will always be much-loved family members.”

Meghan and Harry declined to comment on who made the statements about their son’s skin tone, as Harry stated it would be “very damaging to them.” However, Oprah revealed to “CBS This Morning” after the interview that Harry had told her these conversations did not involve Queen Elizabeth or her husband, Prince Philip.

This is a developing story, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated as the royal family continues to release their thoughts on the interview. Are you surprised by the brevity of the statement? Who do you suppose made the racist comments behind closed doors? Let us know your thoughts on the situation in the comments!