(11 Mar 2021) An author and social commentator expressed his disappointment on Thursday over comments made by the UK's Prince William in defence of the royal family following an explosive interview by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
William insisted on Thursday that his family is not racist as he became the first member of Britain's royal family to speak out about accusations of bigotry made by Harry and Meghan, his brother and sister-in-law.
William made the comments in response to questions shouted at him by reporters during a visit to an East London school.
While members of the royal family often ignore such queries, William used the opportunity to address the explosive allegations that have rocked the monarchy.  
"We're very much not a racist family," William, 38, said as his wife, Kate, walked by his side.
But the brief remarks disappointed commentators like Nikesh Shukla, author of "Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home.″  
"I don't understand how you move forward from a statement such as that, because then it becomes a "Yes, you are, no, you're not. No we're not. Yes, we are, no we're not', which isn't a useful conversation," Shukla told The Associated Press.
"I don't necessarily think people need to present their journey to learning in public, but presenting a route forward that suggests that some... interrogation, introspection is going to take place is, is a good start," he added.
Buckingham Palace is struggling to quiet criticism after Harry and Meghan alleged that the duchess was the victim of racism and callous treatment during her time as a working member of the royal family.
The palace tried to respond to the charges, made during an interview with U.S. TV host Oprah Winfrey, with a 61-word statement that critics called "too little, too late."
Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, walked away from royal duties last year and moved to California, saying they wanted to escape the intrusive British media and live a normal life.
Meghan, who is biracial, said in the interview that she was so isolated and miserable as a working member of the royal family that she had suicidal thoughts.
She also said Harry told her that member of the royal family had expressed "concerns" about the color of her baby's skin before the birth of their son, Archie.

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