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THE DUCHESS OF Sussex Meghan Markle has spoken of the struggles of becoming a mother while living under the spotlight.
Meghan, who gave birth to son Archie in May, shared her feelings of vulnerability during her pregnancy and as a new mother amid intense media scrutiny.
Speaking to ITV’s Tom Bradby during her and Harry’s recent tour of southern Africa, the duchess added that “not many people have asked if I’m okay”.
“Look, any woman – especially when they are pregnant – you’re really vulnerable and so that was made really challenging, and then when you have a new born – you know?” she said, when asked how she was coping.
“And especially as a woman, it’s a lot. So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed it’s, well…” she said.
And also, thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m okay. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.
Asked if it would be fair to say it had “really been a struggle”, Meghan replied: “Yes.”
The interview is part of a documentary detailing the Duke and Duchess’s 10-day tour last month, in which Harry also opens up about his grief surrounding his mother’s death.
Harry said that he felt significant pressure being a member of the royal family in the spotlight, and was particularly stressed by the memories of his mother’s relationship with the press.
“I think probably a wound that festers,” he said.
I think being part of this family, in this role, in this job … every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash, it takes me straight back, so in that respect it’s the worst reminder of her life, as opposed to the best.
“Being here now, 22 years later, trying to finish what she started, will be incredibly emotional, but everything that I do reminds me of her,” Harry said.
“But as I said, with the role, with the job, and the sort of pressures that come with that, I get reminded of the bad stuff, unfortunately.”
During the tour, Meghan and son Archie stayed in South Africa, while Harry visited Malawi, Botswana and Angola, where he highlighted his mother’s anti-landmine work.
“It’s been quite emotional retracing my mother’s steps, 22 years on. Let’s finish what was started,” Harry said.
As the tour ended, the Duke and Duchess both brought separate legal actions against parts of the press, with Meghan suing the Mail on Sunday over a breach of privacy when it published a private letter between her and her estranged father.
Harry later filed his own proceedings at the High Court in relation to the alleged illegal interception of voicemail messages by Sun, News of the World and Daily Mirror journalists.
The documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, will air on ITV on Sunday at 9pm.
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Build more prisons and introduce a 3 strike system , 3rd strike = mandatory life sentences.
@John Judd: Agree. It worked extremely well in New York
@John Judd: For violent crimes, 100%
@John Judd: no. It might seem like we’re in a dark place right now, but we have to stick with this approach. 5—10 more years of not punishing/deterring crime in any meaningful way is bound to make this city safer. Near guaranteed.
@John Judd: 3 strike systems/minimum sentencing has proven to turn would be assaults/robberies into murder. If the person is guaranteed to be put away for a specific amount of time regardless of the severity of the crime, they’re more likely to try and get rid of the witness.
@Ellen Clare: Has this been proven? I doubt it. They have no respect for life anyway. Murder rates were always high in New York, even before the three strike rule.
I would happily pay more taxes to pay for more prisons.
@Stephenkee: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/468112?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Peer reviewed study there on how 3 strike laws increase homicide, and don’t reduce level of crime.
We need more Padraig Nallys.
Can you imagine prisoners were paid 3 million in ‘ pocket money’ last year.something needs to change.
@John: and one in five of them still collect welfare.
Robbing pensioners at knifepoint eh? So brave. We need to do away with suspended sentences and have these lowlifes suspended from the Spire on O Connell Street.
Really need to fix correctional system. Hard labour for these.
Sure our legal system protects criminals more than law abiding citizens.
@Stephenkee: it’s deliberate, think about it, the lawyers and judges are being given plenty of business by these mother*****kers getting their ‘free legal aid’ paid for by their victims’ tax money. They’ll get light sentences and most likely reoffend. Meanwhile the lawyers and judges are living in nice leafy, safe areas.
@Stephenkee: it seems the leftwing snowflakes care more about the criminals than law abiding citizens
Can we pay more income tax and build Thornton Hall? Maybe five or six hundred cells would be a help.
@KerryBlueMike: build it at the curragh, massive amount of space there and right on the motorway.also build a court house and save huge amounts of money transporting prisoners up and down to court in the Centre of Dublin.
Please put me in charge of it,please!
@KerryBlueMike: how about a 5 or 6 hundred Sq metre deep hole
We really need to fix the correctional system. I vote hard labour for these sc** bags.
Cream crackers.
where was the caretaker when all of this was happening,are there no alarms in the appartements
@Tony Niall: article said houses no mention of apartments.
Liberal nonsense has failed to deal with this type of despicable behaviour, time to take gloves off
Unfortunately for everyone else these scrotes take exceptional pride in being the lowest of the low!
have your say