Meghan Markle looked close to tears as she opened up about dealing with negative press in an interview for an upcoming ITV documentary.
The Duchess of Sussex admitted that “not many people” have asked if she’s okay as she spoke to ITV’s Tom Bradby during their royal tour of Southern Africa.
When asked how she has dealt with the constant public scrutiny, and if it has affected her mental health, Meghan replied: “Look, any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable and so that was made really challenging, and then when you have a newborn – you know?”
“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 um…”
“Not many people have asked if I’m ok … it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
Meghan reveals to ITV’s @tombradby the intense media spotlight has left her struggling to cope while becoming a mum #HarryAndMeghan https://t.co/Uy21iE6ozJ pic.twitter.com/kZqhZV66OL
— ITV News (@itvnews) October 18, 2019
A visibly upset Meghan added: “Thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
Tom then asked her: “And the answer is, would it be fair to say, not really OK, as in it’s really been a struggle?”
And Meghan simply replied: “Yes.”
Meghan’s full interview will be part of an ITV documentary, which follows her recent trip to Africa with her husband Prince Harry and their son Archie.
ITV’s @tombradby spoke to Meghan as he gained exclusive access to the royal couple as they toured Africa for 10 days with their son Archie.
The documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, airs on Sunday at 9pm on @ITV #HarryandMeghan https://t.co/Uy21iE6ozJ pic.twitter.com/XYlHVytiHF
— ITV News (@itvnews) October 18, 2019
In the documentary, the Duke of Sussex also opens up about the pressure of living in the public eye, and how it reminds him of his mother’s death.
Princess Diana tragically died in a car accident in Paris back in 1997, and 22 years later, Harry said his grief is still a “wound that festers.”
When asked if he feels at peace yet about the death of his mother, Harry said: “I think being part of this family, in this role and 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.”
“Every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash, it takes me straight back”
Prince Harry tells ITV his grief for Diana is still a “wound that festers” and being followed by the press is the “worst reminder of her life” #HarryAndMeghan https://t.co/FEy37XVASW pic.twitter.com/0qUXeoOXWz
— ITV News (@itvnews) October 17, 2019
The hour-long documentary, entitled ‘Harry and Meghan: An African Journey’, will air on ITV at 9pm on Sunday.
Harry’s comments about living in the public eye don’t come as a surprise, as he publicly slammed the British press for “bulling” his wife during their trip to Africa.
In an emotional statement, Harry said: “I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person.”
“I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”