KEY POINTS

  • Duchess Camilla allegedly joked Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's future child could have "ginger Afro hair," Tom Bower's new book claims
  • Markle felt that the alleged remarks were "racist," according to the book
  • The Sussexes previously told Oprah Winfrey that a royal raised "concerns" about their then-unborn child's skin color

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall allegedly made comments about the appearance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's then-unborn child that the former actress felt were "racist," a new British royal family biography has claimed.

British writer and former BBC journalist and television producer Tom Bower claimed in his newly released biography of the royal family, "Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors," that Prince Harry's stepmother allegedly once joked that the couple's future child could have "ginger Afro hair," according to the New York Post's Page Six, which obtained an excerpt from the book.

When Markle later heard about the alleged comments, she felt that the remarks were "racist," the book claimed.

"The Sussexes’ suspicion that the Duchess of Cornwall had made racist comments about Archie had fueled their fearsome denunciation of the entire royal family," Bower alleged.

Bower — who is known for his investigative journalism and for his unauthorized biographies about the royals and notable figures in the business and media world — did not give a source for the claims. International Business Times could not independently verify the information.

Duchess Camilla, who is the second wife of Prince Harry's father Prince Charles, allegedly made the comment sometime after Prince Harry and Markle's relationship became public.

"During those weeks, Harry met Charles and Camilla at Clarence House. In Harry's version, the conversation alternated between serious and joking and touched three topics," Bower claimed in his book, according to Page Six.

"First, Harry was told that Meghan should continue with her acting career. Second, Scotland Yard could not automatically be expected to pay for his girlfriend's 24-hour protection," the author continued. "And third, according to Harry, someone speculated about what his future child would 'look like.' In one version, Camilla remarked, 'Wouldn't it be funny if your child had ginger Afro hair?'"

Initially, Prince Harry allegedly "laughed" at the comment, Bower claimed. However, "Meghan’s reaction to that conversation turned Harry’s amusement into fury," the author alleged.

During Markle and Prince Harry's March 2021 sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey, the former "Suits" star alleged that there were "concerns and conversations about how dark" their then-unborn son's skin might be. Markle declined to name the royal behind the alleged remarks, saying the revelation would be too damaging.

When Winfrey asked Prince Harry who was behind the alleged comments, he said, "That conversation I'm never going to share. It was awkward. I was a bit shocked."

Prince Harry later told Winfrey that it was not his grandparents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

He also said that the conversation happened early in his romance with Markle. "That was right at the beginning: 'What will the kids look like?'" he recalled.

Buckingham Palace later issued a statement in response to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's claims in the interview.

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

Bower's book "Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors" is out now in the U.K.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton, Camilla Parker Bowles Meghan Markle
Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Camilla Parker Bowles, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018 in London. Getty Images/Chris Jackson