Meghan Markle's friend Janina Gavankar today challenged Queen Elizabeth II's statement about the Oprah interview, saying: "Their recollections may vary—ours don't."
The actress said the Duchess of Sussex knew she was today going on ITV to discuss the statement made by Buckingham Palace.
Yesterday's first official royal family comment, sent on behalf of the queen, said "the whole family is saddened" by Meghan and Harry's experience but added that "some recollections may vary."
Gavankar told This Morning: "I thought I'm so thankful that they [Buckingham Palace] are finally acknowledging the experience. But on the other side I thought I know that the family and the staff were well aware of the extent of it and though their recollections may vary, ours don't because we lived through it with them. And there are many emails and texts to support that."
She added: "I don't know who knew, I know that the family and the staff knew. I think she spoke very well about how she felt."
“The family and staff were well aware of the extent of it and, though their recollections may vary, ours don’t because we lived through it with them. And there are many emails and texts to support that.”
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) March 10, 2021
Friend of the Sussexes, @Janina tells @thismorning that there are receipts. pic.twitter.com/01y7bBVZ1W
Meghan told Oprah that amid negative press coverage: "I just didn't want to be alive anymore."
She also said an unnamed royal commented on what baby Archie's skin colour would look like, expressing concern it might be "too dark."
On Meghan's racism allegations, Gavankar said: "Yes, she spoke to me about that. She told me what you now know."
Presenter Phillip Schofield asked Gavankar about claims Meghan Markle bullied two PAs out of Kensington Palace, made in an email sent in October 2018.
Gavankar, who said she watched the special with Meghan, said: "I have known her for 17 years and I have seen the way that she regards the people around her and the people she works with and I can say she's not a bully.
"I can also say that I'm personally glad that people are doing their due diligence because I also know why someone had to leave and it was for gross misconduct. The truth will come out. There's plenty of emails and texts about that."
She said she was speaking for herself not for Meghan, and added: "The truth really does set you free."
One insider suggested the claim was vague and "almost a smear."
Gavankar did not disclose who the person was and many of the staff at Kensington Palace at the time have since moved on, making identifying the individual impossible.
Asked their identity, a representative of Meghan and Prince Harry declined to comment.
Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
