Oprah Winfrey praises her ‘graceful, warm and loving’ friend Meghan Markle and says the pregnant royal does not read ANY of her press, as it is revealed the media tycoon has partnered with Prince Harry to produce a mental health docuseries
High praise Meghan Markle is graceful and dynamic
Oprah Winfrey praised her new friend Meghan Markle on Wednesday during an appearance on CBS This Morning.
The Queen of Daytime TV said that the American princess ‘is not only everything that we perceive of her as being – graceful and dynamic in holding that position – but she just has a wonderful, warm, giving, loving heart.’
Host Gayle King, who is also a new friend of Markle and attended her baby shower in New York City last month, jumped in to add: ‘She’s very kind. She doesn’t seem to buy into [her bad press] though.’
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High praise: Meghan Markle is ‘graceful and dynamic,’ said Oprah Winfrey on CBS This Morning (above), and has a ‘wonderful, warm, giving, loving heart’
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Royal romance: The Queen of daytime TV also spoke about a new mental health docuseries she and Prince Harry, pictured with Meghan in March, are making for Apple
‘She actually does not read anything, which I find, you know remarkable,’ said Oprah.
‘I think that’s remarkable in spite of all that’s going on, she doesn’t read anything.’
Oprah said that she has been spending a great deal of time in London recently as she works with Prince Harry on their new series.
Speaking about how it came together, she said: ‘I asked the question what do you think are the most important issues facing the world right now, and he said there are two. He said climate change and mental wellness, mental fitness and mental health.’
‘As you know, he’s spoken about his own issues and what he went through after his mother died and how being able to talk about it has benefited him,” Oprah said.
‘So it’s a passion of his and, at the end of the conversation, I said, “Oh, I’m going to be doing this thing with Apple. It’s a big concern of mine too and I want to try to erase the stigma.”
‘And he said at the end of the conversation, “If there’s anything I can do to help…”‘
That is when Oprah said she pitched the idea of Harry coming on to help build the series, and the TV titan said he has been incredibly involved in the project ever since.
‘He’s co-creating and executive producing,’ she said. ‘We’ve had several meetings, secret meetings in London. I’ve flown there with the crew, sitting in sessions, talking about the directions we’re going to take.’
‘Our hope is it will have an impact on reducing the stigma and allow people to know that they’re not alone and allowing people to speak up for it and identify with it.’
The Duke of Sussex was the one to break the news of the collaboration on Wednesday.
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Pass: Oprah (above at the royal wedding) revealed that Markle does not read her press
‘I am incredibly proud to be working alongside Oprah on this vital series which we have been developing together for several months,’ stated Prince Harry.
‘I truly believe that good mental health – mental fitness – is the key to powerful leadership, productive communities and a purpose-driven self.
‘It is a huge responsibility to get this right as we bring you the facts, the science and the awareness of a subject that is so relevant during these times.
‘Our hope is that this series will be positive, enlightening and inclusive – sharing global stories of unparalleled human spirit fighting back from the darkest places, and the opportunity for us to understand ourselves and those around us better.’
There are reportedly plans for Harry to ‘appear on camera’, though it hasn’t been decided whether he will be interviewed by the chat show host.
This is not Prince Harry’s first foray into raising awareness for mental health, having previously launched Heads Together in 2017, a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation, which worked on alongside his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton.
That same year her spoke about his own struggles with mental health on the Mad World podcast.
‘I sort of buried my head in the sand for many, many years. I can safely say that losing my mom at the age of 12 and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life, but also my work as well,’ revealed Harry.
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Difficult day: He has been open about his own struggles with mental health in the past after losing his mother at a young age (Prince Harry above with his father and brother at Diana’s funeral)
