What Surprised Oprah Winfrey Most About Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Interview

Oprah Winfrey is opening up about her bombshell interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, revealing that she had been "surprised" by how "forthcoming" they were in their responses.

During the Friday launch of The Nancy O'Dell Channel on talkshoplive, the TV legend reflected on her March 7 interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who accused the royal family of racism, including "concerns" over their son Archie's skin color.

Winfrey said that she did not meet with Prince Harry and Markle in person prior to the interview. However, she did exchange messages with them in order to determine the main "goal" of their sit-down.

"I didn't see Meghan and Harry before but I did text them and say intention is very part important to me, tell me what your intention is so that we can be aligned in our goal," she was quoted by People as saying. "Our shared intention was the truth. They wanted to be able to tell their story and tell it in such a way that allowed them to be as truthful as possible."

Winfrey also admitted she had been stunned by Markle and Prince Harry's revelations during the tell-all.

"I was surprised. I was surprised at the amount of, you know, literally with that thing that’s now become a meme, that’s like, 'What?' I’m like, 'What? You’re going there? You’re going all the way there?'" Winfrey said.

"The reason why it was such a powerful interview … What makes it powerful is when you have somebody else who is willing to be as open as vulnerable, as truthful as they were. The reason the interview was what it was because they answered the way they did," she continued.

While the host did "a lot of preparation" for the sit-down with the royals, Winfrey said she still did not expect that "it would have the reverberating impact that it has had and continues to have."

During the interview, Markle, who is currently pregnant with their second child, said the palace decreed that her son would not have any title — which, according to the duchess, was "different from protocol." She also claimed that when she was pregnant with Archie, there had been "concerns and conversations" within the monarchy regarding "how dark his skin might be when he's born."

Prince Harry and Markle did not drop names, but Winfrey later said the duke confirmed neither of his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, had been involved in these alleged conversations.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry returned to the U.K. last week for the first time since quitting royal duties and since their interview with Winfrey aired to attend the funeral of Prince Philip, who died on April 9. However, Markle wasn't able to join him as she was advised by her doctors not to travel amid her pregnancy.