This Morning viewers complain to Ofcom after Julia Hartley-Brewer makes a dig at Meghan Markle

This Morning viewers have complained to Ofcom after Talk Radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer took a swipe at Meghan Markle on Thursday’s show. 

The panel were discussing a previously unseen photograph of the Queen and Prince Philip and their great-grandchildren, which was released earlier this week, following the Duke Of Edinburgh‘s death. 

But fans on the show were left unimpressed, when Julia, 52, said Meghan would take offence to the photo because Archie wasn’t in it- despite the fact it was taken in 2018, before he was born. 

Julia told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary: ‘I wonder if Meghan has managed to take offence to this photograph because it doesn’t include her son, she probably thinks it’s a racist photograph which was taken before her son was even conceived. 

‘But I’m sure she’s managed to take offence at it anyway.’ 

Nicola Thorp, who was also part of the discussion, interrupted the radio presenter and said: ‘Julia, you can’t say something like that. I’m sorry and I know you’re laughing about it. You can’t say that without me picking you up on it. 

‘To suggest that Meghan would think that something was racist because something didn’t even exist at the time. You, yourself are pushing this agenda and I’m tired of it.’

Trying to diffuse the situation, Dermot said: ‘Ladies please, let’s move on to the next subject. We thought we’d start off with a lighter subject.’ 

After the scenes aired, fans of the show took to Twitter to slam Julia for her comments and said they found it ‘uncomfortable’ viewing.  

One wrote: ‘Shame on you Julia. You have just showed exactly what it’s like to be a black person in this country and to endure flippant comments as a joke! your racist comment against Megan is not a joke, it makes people feel uncomfortable.’

Another viewer added: ‘@Ofcom please look into Julia heartley brewers ‘joke’ and giggle on racism on @thismorning earlier today’.  

‘If Julia heartley brewer wasn’t stopped by dermot she would have continued more and laughed more,’ a third chimed. 

‘I am putting in a complaint to OFCOM about Julia on #ThisMorning,’ typed a different infuriated fan.   

‘Wow Julia on #ThisMorning has really let the side down. I genuinely used to think there was little racism in the UK but this among many other comments since the Oprah interview has made me think again. Such an unnecessary comment and cruel to boot,’ said another. 

However others supported Julia, with one writing: ‘Loved your dig at Meghan this morning Julia. Her followers had already been calling Catherine for leaving Archie out, even though he hasn’t been born. So you were not far off the mark xx’.   

Prince William and Kate Middleton had released the touching photo of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen with seven of their great-grandchildren ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday.

The previously unseen photograph, which was taken at Balmoral Castle in 2018 by the Duchess of Cambridge, showed Prince Philip with his arm around Peter Phillips’ daughter Isla, while the Queen, 94, held a then-baby Prince Louis in her arms.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte offered a cheeky smile in the picture, while Peter’s elder daughter Savannah Phillips posed alongside Zara Tindall’s daughters Mia and Lena. 

A second picture of Her Majesty and her husband was shared on the Duke and Duchess’ Instagram page, and showed the couple posing with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during a visit to Balmoral in 2015.

The caption read: ‘Today we share, along with Members of the Royal Family, photographs of The Duke of Edinburgh, remembering him as a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.’ 

The photograph does not include the couple’s three youngest grandchildren, who were born in the last few years.

Prince Harry and Meghan welcomed their son Archie Harrison in May 2019, while Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall both gave birth to their sons, who they named after the Duke, last month.