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Piers Morgan claims he received messages of support from Royal Family after Meghan interview fallout

Watch: Piers Morgan says members of the Royal family have thanked him

Piers Morgan has claimed that members of the Royal Family have expressed gratitude to him for "standing up" for them after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Morgan left his job as a presenter of Good Morning Britain in the days after the interview was aired after saying he did not believe Meghan's comments.

While he has been one of her most vocal critics, the former Suits actor has not responded directly to any of his comments.

But she did complain to Ofcom over his remarks, citing concern that people might be reluctant to get help for mental-health struggles.

In an interview with US TV show Extra, Morgan, 56, told presenter Billy Bush: "I’ve had some messages communicated to me on behalf of several members of the Royal Family."

Meghan referred to 'The Firm' as she sat down to talk to Oprah about life in the royal family. (CBS)
Harry and Meghan laid out their grievances in the interview with Oprah Winfrey. (CBS)

Read more: Meghan Markle was told she could continue acting, says Diana's biographer Andrew Morton

Bush asked if he meant "upper-level people," to which Morgan replied: "I’m not going to go into who it was. But what I would say is, gratitude that somebody was standing up."

Morgan said on GMB that he did not believe Meghan's claim that she did not get any help when she was struggling with suicidal thoughts, or that there was racism in the palace.

He did have to clarify later that he did not disbelieve her claims to have suffered suicidal thoughts.

Morgan's comments prompted thousands of complaints from viewers, and broadcasting regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation.

Speaking on Extra, he said his only regret from the fallout was briefly walking off-set when challenged by his colleague Alex Beresford.

He said: "I’m not a racist. Nothing I’ve ever said about Meghan Markle is either racist or racially motivated. I’ve been very critical of Prince Harry and last time I checked he was white and so I find this narrative deeply offensive."

Watch: Piers Morgan insists Princess Diana would be horrified by the divide between Harry and William

Read more: Piers Morgan claims Diana would be 'horrified' by Harry's rift with Royal Family

Morgan told Bush, cousin of former US president George W Bush, that he would ask Meghan for an interview if given the chance to speak to her.

He said: "I would say to Meghan Markle, ‘Look, sit down with me, with your husband for an equally long interview and let me ask you more difficult questions about all your claims.

"But let me ask you a wider question, which is this: if you hate the Royal Family that much, why do you keep your royal titles? Why do you keep calling yourselves the Duke and Duchess of Sussex? Why would you do that if it’s just not to make millions and millions of dollars? And playing the victim as you do is frankly nauseating."

The comments came after Morgan claimed in another interview with Tucker Carlson in the US that Meghan and Harry had told "17 whoppers" during their sit-down with Winfrey.

He did not specify which claims he was referring to but said the couple had said things that were since found to be "completely untrue, or massively exaggerated, or unprovable".

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