Michelle Obama prays for “forgiveness” after watching Meghan and Harry interview

The former First Lady hoped that conversations about race would lead to a "teachable moment for us all".

A week after CBS aired Oprah Winfrey's exclusive interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Michelle Obama has shared her thoughts. In an interview with Jenna Bush Hager on The Today Show, Michelle Obama spoke about the effects of life in the spotlight. She also hoped the royal family could learn from Meghan's experience. When asked about the Duchess of Sussex, Obama said: "Public service is a bright, sharp, hot spotlight, and most people don't understand it, and nor should they." She continued: "The thing that I always keep in mind is that none of this is about us in public service. It's about the people that we serve." Michelle also addressed the "concerns and conversations" about Meghan's son's skin tone before he was born. "Race isn't a new construct in this world for people of colour," Michelle said. "And so it wasn't a complete surprise to hear her feelings and to have them articulated." The former First Lady continued: "I think the thing that I hope for, and the thing I think about, is that this, first and foremost, is a family." She added: "I pray for forgiveness and healing for them so that they can use this as a teachable moment for us all." In the past, Michelle Obama has spoken candidly about her own experiences with racism, both in office and throughout her life. Last year, she spoke about the need for everyone to confront and challenge racism. In a post on Facebook she wrote: "Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. It can't just be on people of colour to deal with it, it's up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out."