‘Not many people have asked if I’m ok’ Meghan’s emotional remarks about her vulnerability are sad but futile

Meghan Markle has spoken out about her struggles with public life over the past few months for an ITV documentary to be aired on Sunday. In the emotional interview, the Duchess of Sussex reveals her vulnerability as she found it difficult to cope. 

No stiff upper-lip here as the under-fire Duchess’ voice cracks with emotion as she thanks journalist Tom Bradby for asking about her journey into the royal spotlight;  “Also 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,” she points out.

The video released today is part of a documentary about Harry and Meghan’s tour of Africa which she started in September and comes just a few weeks after the couple revealed they planned to sue British newspapers including the Mail on Sunday over is publication of private letters.

At the time, Harry issued a statement on behalf of himself and his wife, accusing the British media of ‘bullying’ and ‘relentless propaganda’. He also said that his deepest fear was his wife falling “victim to the same powerful forces’ that his mother also faced.

Today, the video released portrayed Meghan as someone who had been through enough. She said; “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…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…’

Tom asks her: ‘And the answer is, would it be fair to say, not really OK, as in it’s really been a struggle?’

Meghan then replies: ‘Yes.’

Fragility

Harry also expresses his vulnerability as part of the documentary in which he admits that his mother’s death left a ‘festering wound’ in his life.

He had an emotional visit to the same spot near where his mother, Diana famously walked across a cleared minefield near the central city of Huambo in 1997 to highlight the problems with land mines that still plagued the country.

Intense media focus around the royal couple hasn’t let up since the couple got married and had baby Archie. Meghan’s status as an ‘outsider’ coupled with their tendency to do things a little differently has made them targets for the press.

It is no coincidence that the couple chose to be so searingly honest in Africa, a place that they both hold dear. But unfortunately the ‘poor me’ angle does not play well with the British public or press. As heart wrenching as it is to hear two people clearly brow-beaten by an establishment they are duty-bound to protect, this won’t do them any favours.

Duty

As a champion for mental health, Harry perhaps is well-placed to recognise the stress, strain and emotional fragility of his position and by default, his wife and child. His duty shouldn’t supersede his happiness. Perhaps taking a step back from public and royal life would be a better idea than remaining cowering in the spotlight.

Harry, who also broke down with emotion this week when talking about his wife’s pregnancy,  says that the media focus around being a member of the Royal family means he ‘gets reminded of the bad stuff’.

“Being here now, 22 years later, trying to finish what she started will be incredibly emotional. But everything I do reminds of her”.

The documentary will be aired on ITV at 9pm this Sunday evening.

Image via BBC