Queen says saddened to hear of challenging time for Harry and Meghan

The Buckingham Palace has issued a statement in response to the Prince Harry and Meghan interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying race issues it brought up are "concerning" and "will be addressed.''Following the explosive Oprah  interview airing in full on UK television last night, the statement on behalf of the Queen said: "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan, Sky News reports.

"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members."

Pressure had been mounting on the Palace to respond to accusations of racism in the Royal Family following the program, which was first broadcast in the US on Sunday night.

Meghan claimed a fellow royal had had "several conversations" with Harry and raised "concerns" about son Archie's skin color before he was born and "what that would mean or look like.''

The couple refused to reveal who had made such comments, but Winfrey has since said that Harry told her it was not Prince Philip or the Queen.

Meghan also revealed she had suicidal thoughts, saying "I just didn't want to be alive any more", but her approaches to the institution for help were turned down.

She denied reports she had made Kate cry ahead of her May 2018 wedding, claiming "the reverse happened".

Prince Harry admitted to a rift with his father and said Prince Charles had stopped taking his calls for a while when the couple left for a new life in America.

The Duke of Sussex also claimed he had been "trapped" in the royal system - "like the rest of my family".

The couple also told Oprah Winfrey they were expecting a girl and spoke of their "fairytale" life in California.

The interview has now been seen by more than 49.1 million people worldwide according to the host broadcaster CBS.-Photo: Sky News