The Queen will not watch Meghan and Harry interview ‘circus’ and wants to ‘focus on the big issues’ instead, aides say

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THE QUEEN will not watch Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey as she wants to “focus on the big issues” instead, reports claim.

Courtiers have branded the bombshell interview – which will be aired in the US tomorrow night and in the UK on Monday – a “circus” and warned they will retaliate with fresh revelations about the couple’s behaviour if they attack the monarchy.

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The Queen will not watch Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview, reports say

The interview will be aired in the US on Sunday and in the UK on Monday

The monarch, 94, will ignore the interview to show the Royal Family is “focusing on the big issues”, a source told HOARday Times.

She will also have several engagements in the coming days to make it clear “where the focus is”.

The source said: “You will see next week Her Majesty has quite a few things going on. I don’t think anyone should expect Her Majesty to stay up and watch the interview. She won’t.”

They added: “The mood in the family is: can everyone just shut the hell up and can we just get on with the day job.”

Palace officials accused Harry and Meghan of being “at war” with the royal household and said that if the couple attack any individuals in the interview, courtiers “will come out swinging”.

This week, a source told The Times that the Duchess of Sussex drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of a third.

The Palace launched an investigation into the allegations, releasing a statement saying they were “very concerned” at the claims.

‘BIG ISSUES’

Tonight, a royal source with knowledge of the allegations said: “The actual worst incidences haven’t come out.

“There are some harrowing stories to tell. I’ve had some teary conversations with people this week.”

Bust-ups between the Duchess of Sussex and her aides during the royal tour of Australia are set to be the focus of the Buckingham Palace bullying probe, a source said.

The 16-day trip in 2018 is said to have seen a string of clashes between Meghan and staff.

A source said: “The Australia tour is one of the most important in the royal world but there have long been allegations of rows with staff.

“If these assistants come forward it will form the centre of the Palace’s bullying probe. It was a critical time.”

However, a spokesman for the Sussexes denied allegations of bullying, saying that Meghan is committed to supporting people who have experienced trauma and works to “build compassion around the world”.

Queen Elizabeth II walks past Commonwealth flags in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle to mark Commonwealth Day

Meghan’s spokesman said: “The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.

“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”

It comes after aides said the Queen has not received an advance copy of the Oprah interview.

Royal aides are braced for Meghan to expose her rift with Kate in the interview, as they fear new disclosures will also deepen tensions between Prince Harry and his brother William.

A source said: “If she has chosen to speak candidly about her time with Kate then the damage that could be done to the monarchy is vast.

“She has the power to lay bare just how bad things really were between her, Harry, William and Kate.”

Senior Royals have reportedly urged for ‘calm amid the storm’ ahead of the interview

Senior Royals have reportedly urged for “calm amid the storm” ahead of the bombshell interview in which nothing will be “off limits”.

Sources said members of the Royal Family including Prince Charles and Prince William have agreed they will “reserve judgement” until they have watched the whole clip.

Earlier this week, Oprah was accused of painting the Queen as a “mafia boss” after a preview of the interview showed her asking Meghan if she was “silent or silenced” in the Royal Family.

But royal experts said the claim is “ridiculous” and unfairly paints the Queen as a mob boss like Don Corleone from The Godfather.

Robert Jobson, a biographer of Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh, said the trailer was packed with “over the top, melodramatic nonsense”.

Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey is to be screened in the US on Sunday night and in the UK on ITV on Monday at 9pm.

Royal aides said the Queen has not received an advance copy of the interview