Queen Elizabeth II, last July, at Windsor Castle.CHRIS JACKSON / AFP
The pressure has been unbearable, and Elizabeth II has had to skip her long-standing habit of ignoring any controversy aired in the media.
Buckingham Palace has expressed its "concern" on Tuesday at the accusations of racism made by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in their interview with the American journalist, Oprah Winfrey, and has promised that the matter will be dealt with "privately by the family." .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said a member of the Royal Family expressed fear that the baby the couple was expecting - today little Archie, one year old - would have too dark a skin tone.
The statements put the House of Windsors in the eye of the hurricane, and have caused a huge division in British society between those who demanded a forceful clarification of what happened and those who accused Markle of having maliciously inflated an anecdote.
“The whole family has shown their sadness to know in all their breadth how challenging the last years have been for Enrique and Meghan.
The issues raised, in particular that of race, are very worrying.
Although memories of what happened may vary, we take them very seriously and will be discussed privately by the family.
Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be very dear members of this family, ”said a spokesman for Buckingham Palace.
In this way, the British Royal House tries to reduce the pressure of the last hours, not only in the United Kingdom but throughout the world.
Public opinion in the United States, where the interview was broadcast earlier, has overwhelmingly supported the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and responded with irritation to accusations of racism.
In some countries of the Commonwealth (Commonwealth of Nations) voices have emerged that rethink the relationship with the British Crown.
And society itself in the UK has been divided on this.
The express poll carried out by YouGov shows that 32% of citizens believe that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been well treated by the royal family, compared to another 32% who think otherwise.
The alarming thing is that, among those surveyed between 18 and 24 years old, it is 61% who are positioned in favor of the couple.
Practically the reverse of what happens with those over 65.
A clear sign that the rupture caused by the Dukes of Sussex has brought to light not only an ideological but also a generational division around the monarchy.
Only Queen Elizabeth II, 94, retains a popularity that other members of the royal family have been losing.
The next few hours will be decisive to see if the response from Buckingham Palace is enough to temper spirits.
The Labor opposition has called for a public inquiry into alleged episodes of racism that "have no place in the UK in the 21st century."