Mr Neil has been a prominent figure in the media for years, best known for his long career at the BBC. As he was bound by impartiality rules to remain neutral on all political issues, his true opinions have remained a mystery until this year. Mr Neil has left the BBC, and will now chair and host on the new channel GB News. In an interview with the BBC’s Amol Rajan, Mr Neil discussed his career, political leanings and personal life.
As he discussed the Royal Family, Mr Neil admitted that he isn’t a “cheerleading monarchist” and that he can “see the strengths of a republic”.
Mr Rajan also pointed out that, in 1997, Mr Neil argued the republican side in a debate and asked whether he still held republican views.
While on BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Media Show’, Mr Neil replied: “Not really.
“I am not a cheerleading monarchist, I can see the strength of a republic.
“My main objection to the Royal Family at that time was basically Marxist.
“It behaved like it was the pinnacle of a class system, and they were the top ones.
“My Sunday Times was devoted to breaking up Britain’s class system, and I thought it would be possible to have a Royal Family separate from the class system.”
Mr Neil also discussed the current Royal Family crisis involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who made accusations that could be “extremely damaging” to the monarchy.
The Duchess of Sussex told Oprah Winfrey during the interview that at one stage she “didn’t want to be alive anymore” and claimed the…
