

Almost two years ago to the day—March 7, 2021—Oprah Winfrey permanently entered the royal family conversation, specifically when it comes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. That day, of course, was the airing of the famous/infamous (you decide) television special Oprah with Meghan and Harry, and she has been closely associated with the couple since. (In all fairness, she knew the Sussexes long before March 2021—she was even in attendance at their wedding in May 2018.)
Now, the conversation continues, with Oprah’s BFF Gayle King asking the media mogul on CBS Mornings this week her thoughts on whether Harry and Meghan should attend King Charles’ upcoming Coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London.
“It’s been reported that Harry and Meghan have received an invitation to the Coronation,” said King—who herself was in attendance at Meghan’s baby shower in 2019, per People. “Do you think they should go? Do you think they should not go? Is it something you’d like to comment on?”
Oprah’s response? “I think they should do what they feel is best for them and for their family,” she said. “That’s what I think. That’s what the bottom line—it comes down to: What do you feel like is the best thing for you?”
She then added with a smile: “They haven’t asked me my opinion.”
Before Netflix’s Harry & Meghan, before Spare, before Spotify’s “Archetypes,” and before interviews with The Cut, Variety, Anderson Cooper, Stephen Colbert, et cetera, there was Oprah. The 85-minute CBS special was Harry and Meghan’s first joint interview since stepping back as working members of the royal family in January 2020; at the time of the step back, Oprah told TMZ that she supported their decision, telling the outlet “I support them 1,000 percent. You know why I support them? I support them because I believe, when you have thought about this as long as they have—and even in the Queen’s statement [she] says, ‘This has been going on for months,’ these discussions have been going on for months—and when Harry said in that charity statement the other day [that] he had to make the decision to move forward in peace with his new family, who doesn’t feel what that takes to make that decision to give up everything you’ve known your whole life to say I’m going to choose this new life or what I believe to be the truest vision for myself?”
Ultimately, the jury’s still out on what Harry and Meghan will do about their Coronation attendance, as the RSVP due date looms.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.

Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Before Hosting ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Olivia Rodrigo Gives Us Festive Red Vintage Versace—and Combat Boots
‘Tis the season!
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Anne Hathaway’s Look Is Ushering Us Into Winter In the Most Beautiful Way
Angelic winter white is a trend we can get behind.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Julia Stiles Steals the Show With Surprise ‘Save the Last Dance’ Cameo on ‘Saturday Night Live’
This is, randomly, the second time this week Stiles has reenacted a character of hers from the early aughts time period.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince Harry Says He "Felt Forced" to Leave the U.K. in Court Statement
Oh, wow.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
The Red Carpet For 'The Color Purple' Was Back-to-Back Dazzling Looks
Have you seen Ciara?!
By Fleurine Tideman
-
The Palace Seemingly Used Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Distract From Prince William's Alleged Affair, Omid Scobie Says
The "affair" is pure speculation, Scobie stresses.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Despite It All, King Charles Absolutely “Refuses” to Strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of Their Duke and Duchess of Sussex Titles
The reason is poignant.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince Harry Will Miss Britain’s “Wedding of the Year” Because of Continued Rift With the Royal Family, Royal Expert Reports
The groom, the Duke of Westminster, is one of Prince Archie’s godparents.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
One of King Charles’ Siblings Was Adamant That Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Be Evicted from Frogmore Cottage
Meanwhile, another sibling was “uneasy” about the decision.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
King Charles Had Just Two Frosty Words for Son Prince Harry After the Release of the Netflix Docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’
The King’s composure surrounding his younger son allegedly broke for a moment.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
The Royal Family Needn’t Worry: 'Spare' Volume II Won't Happen, Omid Scobie Says
Prince Harry has previously said he could write a whole other book with content left on the cutting room floor.
By Rachel Burchfield