John Barnes says royal who asked Harry and Meghan about baby’s skin colour was ‘being realistic’

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The unnamed royal who asked Prince Harry and Meghan Markle about the colour of their baby’s skin colour was ‘being realistic’, John Barnes has said.

The former professional footballer has also said that most black people would say ‘so what’ to the question reportedly posed by the royal during Meghan’s pregnancy.

Barnes, a father-of-seven who is married to a white woman, said he would ‘expect that conversation’ to happen, adding that people will ‘always wonder’ what the baby will look like. 

Meghan plunged the monarchy into crisis after telling Oprah Winfrey that an unnamed royal had expressed ‘concern’ about Archie’s skin before he was born in an explosive interview earlier this year. 

The duchess claimed that someone in ‘The Firm’ had raised ‘concerns’ about ‘how dark’ Archie’s skin would be before he was born because she is mixed-race and Harry is white.

Ex-footballer John Barnes has said that the unnamed royal who questioned what colour baby Archie's skin colour would be was simply 'being realistic' and that most black people would say 'so what' at the question. Pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex holding their son Archie

Ex-footballer John Barnes has said that the unnamed royal who questioned what colour baby Archie’s skin colour would be was simply ‘being realistic’ and that most black people would say ‘so what’ at the question. Pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex holding their son Archie

Harry added: ‘That conversation, I am never going to share. At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked.’ 

The couple refused to explicitly name the person in question because it would be ‘damaging’ to them but said it was not Queen Elizabeth or Prince Philip. 

The comments led to viewers calling for the royal to be named and a rare public rebuke from Harry’s brother Prince William who insisted ‘we are not a racist family’ to reporters during a school visit in London.

However, former footballer Barnes, who has written a book about racism, claims the question was not surprising.

In an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, he said: ‘You speak to most black people and they’ll say “Yeah, so what?” I would expect that conversation to be had by the family.

‘People will always wonder what the baby will look like and if it is going to be dark.

‘If you listen to what Meghan says, it’s not about them [the unnamed royal] worrying if the baby is dark or not, it’s them worrying about how the public are going to view that.

In an interview for his book on racism, Barnes also said he did not like the Duchess of Sussex and that it was important to separate the idea of racism and 'her character as a human being'

In an interview for his book on racism, Barnes also said he did not like the Duchess of Sussex and that it was important to separate the idea of racism and ‘her character as a human being’

Prince Harry claimed in his interview with Meghan and Oprah Winfrey in March this year (pictured) that a member of the Royal Family asked about what colour Archie's skin would be

Prince Harry claimed in his interview with Meghan and Oprah Winfrey in March this year (pictured) that a member of the Royal Family asked about what colour Archie’s skin would be

‘Because they know if the baby is too dark, the public will not view the baby as positively. They’re being realistic.

‘Let’s not pretend the public won’t care whether it’s a blond-haired blue-eyed baby or jet black, because they will.’

In the interview about his book, The Uncomfortable Truth About Racism, Barnes claimed a lot of black people he knows are not fans of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

He added: ‘The problem now is that if you don’t like her, people will call you a racist, when it’s got nothing to do with that.

‘That’s why it’s important to separate the idea of racism and her character as a human being.’ 

Earlier this month, experts warned Prince Harry may name the royal who he accused of asking about his son Archie’s skin colour.

Insiders fear the Duke of Sussex (pictured with Meghan and Archie in South Africa in 2019) could use his upcoming memoir to expose the royal who questioned Archie's skin colour

Insiders fear the Duke of Sussex (pictured with Meghan and Archie in South Africa in 2019) could use his upcoming memoir to expose the royal who questioned Archie’s skin colour

Insiders fear the Duke of Sussex could use his upcoming memoir to expose his family member.

The 37-year-old is said to be personally looking into Princess Diana’s life for the book – which has landed him a £15million advance from publishers.

But sources fear he could be forced to disclose ‘a lot’ about the row as well as about his parents for the huge sum he is being paid.

Royal expert Penny Junor told the Sun: ‘The publishers are going to want a lot for their money, such as naming this so-called racist.

‘He’s researching his mother’s life so he’s going to be talking about his parents’ marriage, the break up, the affairs.

‘That could be incredibly damaging for his father and Camilla. Charles is going to be king and Camilla his queen.’

The author added: ‘The last thing they or the country needs is another upsurge of anger.’

The Duke is reportedly ringing around Princess Diana’s old friends as he prepares the memoir.

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