In a surprising and controversial appearance on The Graham Norton Show, the usually mild-mannered actress Miriam Margolyes shocked audiences by launching into a scathing critique of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Known for her role in the Harry Potter series, Margolyes described Meghan as "very rude" and questioned the existence of her and Prince Harry's two children, making this one of her most provocative public outbursts yet.
Margolyes's comments arose when she was asked about her thoughts on the current state of the British royal family. "Oh goodness, where do I even begin?" the 82-year-old responded with a wry chuckle. "The Royals are certainly keeping us all on our toes these days, aren't they?"
Sensing an opportunity for some juicy sound bites, the interviewer encouraged Margolyes to expand on her views. "Well, I have to say I'm not terribly impressed with Meghan Markle," Margolyes began, her voice taking on an uncharacteristically stern tone. "I've met her a few times, you see, and I'm afraid I found her to be very rude, mumsy, and offhand, if you know what I mean."
The audience audibly gasped, no doubt stunned by Margolyes's willingness to publicly criticize a member of the royal family in such stark terms. But the outspoken actress was far from finished.
"And you know, I have to say I rather doubt the existence of those children of hers," Margolyes continued, eliciting gasps of disbelief from the crowd. "I mean, have you ever actually seen them? Putting aside the fact that I've never seen Meghan exhibit any maternal instinct whatsoever, I just find the whole thing a bit suspicious, to be honest."
Norton, visibly taken aback by the actress's incendiary remarks, attempted to interject and steer the conversation in a different direction. But Margolyes was having none of it. "Oh come on, Graham," she scoffed. "You can't tell me you haven't noticed how conveniently those children seem to have appeared on the scene just in time to generate some positive PR for the royal family. Honestly, it all reeks of a rather cynical publicity stunt if you ask me."
The audience erupted into a chorus of shocked murmurs, with some even voicing their disapproval of Margolyes's comments. But the unphased actress continued unabated, her face set in a resolute expression. "Let's not forget how Meghan has treated her own family," Margolyes added, her voice dripping with disdain. "Cutting them out of her life, refusing to acknowledge them publicly—it's just appalling behavior if you ask me. No wonder they've been so vocal in their criticism of her."
As the segment drew to a close, Norton attempted to steer the conversation in a more positive direction, praising Margolyes for her candor and noting that her views, though controversial, were undoubtedly sincere. But the damage had already been done, and social media quickly ablaze with reactions to the actress's explosive comments.
Some praised Margolyes for her willingness to speak her mind, while others denounced her remarks as nothing more than unsubstantiated gossip. Predictably, Meghan's most ardent supporters were outraged, with many accusing Margolyes of engaging in a calculated smear campaign against the Duchess.
For her part, Margolyes remained unrepentant, telling reporters backstage that she had no regrets about her comments and stood by every word. "I'm not one to mince my words, and if I believe something to be true, I'm going to say it," she declared defiantly. "Meghan Markle may be a lot of things, but in my experience, genuine and sincere are certainly not among them."
Only time will tell how this latest royal controversy will play out, but one thing is certain: Miriam Margolyes has firmly cemented her reputation as one of the most outspoken and unapologetic celebrities in the business. And if the past is any indication, this won't be the last time the veteran actress finds herself at the center of a media firestorm.
