Piers Morgan Claims Royals Thanked Him for 'Standing up for Them' Over Meghan Markle
Piers Morgan claims he had messages "on behalf of several members of the Royal Family" thanking him for "standing up" to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The Good Morning Britain host resigned from the ITV show after an on-air outburst in which he said he did not believe the Duchess of Sussex's claims to Oprah Winfrey.
Previously he told FOX Nation's Tucker Carlson Today how Princess Diana would have been "horrified" at the couple's interview, highlighting his own friendship with Prince Harry's mother.
Now he has claimed some royals reached out through intermediaries to thank him for challenging Meghan and Harry's claims.
Morgan told Extra: "I've had some messages communicated to me on behalf of several members of the Royal Family."
He added: "Well, I'm not going to go into who it was, but what I can say is gratitude for someone who was standing up for them."
Morgan's resignation followed a complaint from Meghan to the broadcaster over the implications of his comments for the wider debate on mental health.
The host had appeared to suggest he did not believe her account of feeling suicidal, though he later clarified he only intended to dispute her claim she went to the palace for help and was rebuffed.
He told Extra: "Well, I didn't even know that Meghan Markle had contacted my boss at ITV, I didn't even find out until I left.
"It was certainly a very interesting revelation from where I sit, because clearly she was trying to put huge pressure on my bosses to take action against me."
He added: "All I can say is there were 57,000 complaints against me, which were driven by an online mob that came for me all day, came for members of my family, who were abusing my sons all day long, issuing death threats to them."
The Oprah interview included allegations of racism in the British media and Morgan denied that his own attacks on Meghan were racially motivated.
He said: "I'm not a racist — nothing I've ever said about Meghan Markle is racist or racially motivated.
"I've been very critical of Prince Harry, and last time I checked he was white... and so I find this narrative deeply offensive."
Meghan told Oprah: "I just didn't want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought."
She added: "I went to the institution and I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help and I said that I'd never felt this way before.
"I need to go somewhere. And I was told that I couldn't, because it wouldn't be good for the institution."
The morning after Meghan and Harry's interview was broadcast, Morgan said on air: "I'm sorry, I don't believe a word she says."
He added: "I wouldn't believe her if she read me a weather report, and the fact that she's fired up this onslaught against our royal family, I think is contemptible."
His comments prompted mental health charity Mind to post on Twitter: "We were disappointed and concerned to see Piers Morgan's comments on not believing Meghan's experiences about suicidal thoughts today.
"It's vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy.
"We are in conversations with ITV about this at the moment."
The palace declined to comment.
If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.
