The Queen reportedly won’t let Palace staff respond to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex situation

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have stepped down as royal family members and relocated to California, but that certainly doesn't stop them from making headlines.

This past month was no exception as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed the news that they were expecting their second child and announced that they would not be returning to royal duties.

It's safe to say, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are all anyone can talk about right now.

This week saw Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sit down for an in-depth interview with Oprah Winfrey, with the show airing in the UK on Monday evening.

The rare move for the notoriously private couple saw record numbers of viewers.

The Duke and Duchess spoke about everything from mental health and their relationship with the royal family to their current pregnancy, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle even revealing that they are expecting a baby girl.

The interview sent shockwaves across the world, proving incredibly divisive, with a race claim surrounding Archie making particular headlines.

Buckingham Palace later released the following statement:

'The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

'The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

'Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.'

It has since been reported by the Daily Mail that Palace staff have reportedly been forbidden from getting involved, with the Queen handling the personal matter herself, going directly to the Sussexes.

'It is difficult to underestimate how shell-shocked everyone is by what has happened,' a source reportedly explained. 'People are literally reeling from what has happened and some staff would dearly love to publicly rebut some of what has been said about them. But the Queen has taken a very measured, sensible approach. She is leading by example. This is a matter for her and the family to deal with. There is a long way to go but hopefully things will start to move in the right direction in order for bridges to be built.'

We will continue to update this story.