Harry and Meghan set to break silence after royal family split in Oprah Winfrey interview

Couple to explain their move to the US and reveal hopes for future

The interview will air three weeks before the end of the ‘trial period’ of separation from the royal family (EPA)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to give their first televised interview since walking away from royal duties.

Harry and Meghan will speak to Oprah Winfrey for a two-part primetime special due to be aired by CBS on 7 March.

The sit-down chat will begin with the duchess talking about “everything from stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work to how she is handling life under intense public pressure”, the network said.

Harry will then join his wife to answer questions about their move to the US and their hopes for their future.

It will be aired just a few weeks before the one-year anniversary of the couple ending their roles as senior royals on 31 March. Before that date the Queen is expected to review Harry’s honorary military titles – Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving – which were put on hold for a year. He is not currently allowed to take on any roles using them.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment and it is not known if Harry and Meghan informed the royal household in the UK about their plans to be interviewed.

However, as non-working members of the monarchy, they do not have to give the palace notice of their media commitments.

Oprah With Meghan And Harry: A CBS Primetime Special has been described as an “intimate conversation” by the US television network.

CBS said in a statement: “Winfrey will speak with Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, in a wide-ranging interview, covering everything from stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work to how she is handling life under intense public pressure.

“Later, the two are joined by Prince Harry as they speak about their move to the United States and their future hopes and dreams for their expanding family.”

The announcement was made a day after the couple confirmed that they were expecting their second child and follows the Meghan’s High Court victory in a privacy claim against The Mail on Sunday.

Oprah Winfrey is a personal friend of Meghan and attended her royal wedding in May 2018, and there was speculation at the time the couple were likely to be interviewed by the celebrity.

She has interviewed hundreds of celebrities ranging from Tom Cruise and Madonna to former president Barack Obama.

Winfrey also spoke to Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, in 2010 after she was caught offering to sell access to the Duke of York for £500,000.

Additional reporting by Press Association