The Queen has addressed the nation just hours before the release of Meghan’s explosive interview with Oprah, adding in a few subtle digs towards her grandson and his wife.
Her Majesty delivered several barbed comments in the 60-minute message, called A Celebration for Commonwealth Day.
In classic royal fashion, the Queen’s message was pointed but delivered a series of major blows directed at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Watched the #BBCs excellent ‘A Celebration for Commonwealth Day’ during which The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, has paid tribute to communities across the family of nations who've come together in response to the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/gDlw87UZsu
— Dickie Arbiter 🇬🇧 (@RoyalDickie) March 7, 2021
The Sun mentioned Her Majesty’s pointed jibe when she praised the nation’s “selfless dedication to duty” just hours ahead of Meg and Harry’s explosive tell-all interview.
The Queen’s call for the importance of family to “transcend division” was also side-eyed by royal onlookers who believed she could have been directly speaking to her grandson and granddaughter-in-law.
The special broadcast included Kate and William, Prince Charles and Camilla and Prince Edward’s wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.
The program took place ahead of Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, which airs on CBS in the United States at 8pm-10 pm ET on Sunday (12pm-2 pm Monday AEDT).
#EXCLUSIVE: In this extended first clip from @Oprah's interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex says what it means to be able to speak for herself.
It comes one year after the couple left England and stepped back from full-time royal life.#OprahMeghanHarry pic.twitter.com/o3AdxpmLrh
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) March 5, 2021
The royal family’s own broadcast comes amid the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s major controversy over the couple deciding to give a tell-all interview.
Multiple sources have since come forward since details of the Oprah and royal sit-down came out, claiming Meghan bullied aides during her time as a working royal.
The Duchess strenuously denies the claims, with a spokesperson for the couple saying it is “no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining the Duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and the Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience.”
The Sussexes officially stepped back from royal duties in February, after announcing they were expecting their second child.
Below is the Queen’s entire speech.
Over the coming week, as we celebrate the friendship, spirit of unity and achievements of the Commonwealth, we have an opportunity to reflect on a time like no other.
Whilst experiences of the last year have been different across the Commonwealth, stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory, notably by those working on the frontline who have been delivering healthcare and other public services in their communities. We have also taken encouragement from remarkable advances in developing new vaccines and treatments.
The testing times experienced by so many have led to a deeper appreciation of the mutual support and spiritual sustenance we enjoy by being connected to others.
The need to maintain greater physical distance, or to live and work largely in isolation, has, for many people across the Commonwealth, been an unusual experience. In our everyday lives, we have had to become more accustomed to connecting and communicating via innovative technology – which has been new to some of us – with conversations and communal gatherings, including Commonwealth meetings, conducted online, enabling people to stay in touch with friends, family, colleagues and counterparts, who they have not been able to meet in person. Increasingly, we have found ourselves able to enjoy such communication, as it offers an immediacy that transcends boundaries or division, helping any sense of distance to disappear.
We have all continued to appreciate the support, breadth of experiences and knowledge that working together brings, and I hope we shall maintain this renewed sense of closeness and community. Looking forward, relationships with others across the Commonwealth will remain important, as we strive to deliver a common future that is sustainable and more secure, so that the nations and neighbourhoods in which we live, wherever they are located, become healthier and happier places for us all.
This article originally appeared on Over60.