BBC presenter Mishal Husain responds to Meghan Markle's claims of 'orchestrated' engagement interview

BBC presenter Mishal Husain has responded to claims her engagement interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was "rehearsed" and "orchestrated".

Husain, who has been at the BBC since 1998, was picked to interview the royal couple on their happy news in November 2017, with the pair famously revealing they got engaged over a roast chicken dinner at home.

But years later, Meghan labelled the interview an "orchestrated reality show", claiming it was "rehearsed" and they weren't allowed to tell their true story.

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Now, Husain has revealed she wasn't sure "what to make" of Meghan's comments during the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan.

"When the Duchess of Sussex said that my engagement interview with her and Harry was an 'orchestrated reality show' I didn't know what to make of it," Husain said in an interview with UK publication Saga Magazine, released on Tuesday.

"They seemed to have thought through what their new lives would be like and what marriage would mean for her life in particular."

Husain said at the time there was no indication of the trouble to come.

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"There was nothing that pointed to what would happen," she said, referencing their decision to step down from their senior royal roles in March 2020.

"It was two people who were full of joy in each other and life."

This isn't the first time the BBC World Service and Radio 4 personality has commented on Meghan's allegations.

Husain was live on air presenting BBC Radio 4's Today when the remarks first aired.

Her co-presenter, Justin Webb, jokingly called her an "orchestrator" to laughs in the studio.

"We know recollections may vary on this particular subject," Husain said at the time, borrowing Queen Elizabeth's famous saying.

"But my recollection is definitely very much: asked to do an interview and do said interview."

During the docuseries, the couple reflected on the negative media attention their relationship received over the course of their lives as royals.

Speaking of the media circus around their engagement - including a photo call in the Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace followed by the one interview distributed to all, which was organised by Kensington Palace - Meghan said: "It was, you know, rehearsed."

"So we did the thing out with the press and then we went right inside, took the coat off and did the interview. So, it's all in that same moment," the duchess told documentary makers.

When asked if she was given questions in advance, Meghan said: "Yeah. But then also like 'and then there'll be a moment when they'll ask to see the ring'."

"My point is we weren't allowed to tell our story because they didn't want [it]," she added.

Harry interjected: "We've never been allowed to tell our story … that's the consistency".

The producer replied that "I guess that's why we're here", prompting Meghan to agree.

The couple revealed details around their engagement in the second episode of the docuseries, with Meghan even airing a grainy photo from the proposal.

They revealed Meghan's beagle, Guy, was present for the moonlit event, which took place on a picnic blanket in the courtyard of their London home, Nottingham Cottage.

Harry admitted he did "get down on one knee", as he had confirmed in their BBC engagement interview.

Meghan said she was tipped off to the big event by Harry buying a special bottle of champagne, leading her to FaceTime one of her friends overseas to say it was happening.

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