LONDON—An interview by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in which the couple said a member of the royal family asked how dark their unborn child’s skin would be, has thrust the British monarchy into the center of an uncomfortable discussion over the role of race in British society.
In a two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, known by their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said they experienced racism before and after they were married. The conversation stirred questions as to whether the British monarchy and the country they represent have done enough to tackle discrimination against Britons of color. It comes less than a year after Black Lives Matters protests divided British public opinion.
The Duchess of Sussex, who is biracial, said before the birth of her son Archie that there were “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born” with a member of the royal family. Neither she nor Prince Harry…