A US State Department spokesperson has denied allegations that John Kerry had made remarks on the private lives of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry during the coronation of King Charles earlier this year.
Lady Anne Glenconner, a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen’s youngest sister and a close friend to late Queen Elizabeth claimed former Secretary of State commented about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage.
She said Kerry admitted Americans felt “very, very sad for Prince Harry” when she struck up a conversation with him.
She was speaking at The Barnes BookFest when she made the claim.
“I feel very sad for Harry because, at the King’s Coronation, I happened to sit next to somebody called John Kerry, who ran for president.
“He wanted to be president. And he came over with Mrs. Biden, because he is into green things, and we were sitting with the King’s friends, and I said to him, ‘What do you think in America about Harry and Meghan?’ and he just said, ‘We all feel very, very sorry for Harry.’
“So I think I can just leave it at that.”
A State Department spokesperson rejected the allegation and insisted Kerry would not comment on the private life of the Duke of Sussex and his wife.
The spokesperson said Kerry had no recollection of the alleged conversation and insisted he would not be drawn into public discussions of a private nature.
The statement said: “Any implication that Secretary Kerry was commenting on the marriage would be wrong.
“Secretary Kerry does not remember being asked that question, but as a father in the public eye himself, he has nothing but empathy for people working through a family matter who all deserve privacy and compassion.”
Criticizing Harry’s wife on the occasion, the Baroness said: “I think the thing about Meghan was, she had no idea what was expected of her really.
She added, “I think she just thought it was like being another actress, you know. Riding around in a golden coach and everything like that. “Actually, being a member of the Royal Family—I mean I followed Princess Margaret for 34 years—a lot of it is extremely boring actually.”
After her statement was rejected by the US official, Meghan Markle’s supporters said the woman had caused embarrassment to the British royal family.