Southend MP Sir David Amess has spoken out in support of the Queen following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. 

Meghan and Harry laid bare their lives as a working royal couple, alleging a member of the family – although not the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh – made a racist comment about their unborn son.

More than 11 million viewers watched the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey on ITV on Monday night.

Winfrey was left open-mouthed when the duchess – the first mixed-race member of the modern monarchy – said a fellow royal was worried about how dark their son Archie’s skin tone might be before he was born.

During the candid interview, Meghan suggested her son was not made a prince because of his race – although rules set by George V meant he was not entitled to be one.

Speaking in Parliament Tory MP Mr Ames, who represents Southend West, reiterated his support for the Queen as the fallout from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah Winfrey continues.

Speaking in the Commons, he asked: “Will (Jacob Rees-Mogg) find time for a debate on the role of the monarchy?

“During such a debate, I’d very much hope that the argument could be made that it is never wise for a family dispute to be aired in public with everyone getting damaged and hurt by the fallout.

“Perhaps during such a debate we could celebrate the fact that we’re so blessed to have had our monarch for 70 years compared to the alternative of having a president as our head of state, which we very nearly had under Tony Blair.”

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Mr Rees-Mogg replied: “Were we to have a debate to praise our sovereign lady, it would take up all the legislative time available in this House.

“So all I’ll say is ‘God save our gracious Queen, long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen, send her victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us, God save the Queen, O Lord our God arise, scatter her enemies and let them fall, frustrate their knavish tricks, confound their politics, on thee our hopes we fix, God save us all’.”

It cames as the Duke of Cambridge has defended the monarchy against accusations of racism made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, saying “We’re very much not a racist family”. 

Yesterday Mr Ames said described the Queen as "having a tough time at the moment." 

He called for a statute of the Queen to be explored. 

"She has served her country so well for 70 years, and a statue would be a fitting tribute to our great monarch," he said. 

"Her grace, compassion and dedication to duty during her reign has made this country the envy of the world. Thank goodness we have a monarch rather than a president."