On March 7, the long-awaited tea-spilling interview between Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Oprah Winfrey aired on CBS as a prime-time special.
For two whole hours, the Sussexes spoke openly and freely about the events that led to them stepping down as senior members of the royal family, and just how much of it was influenced by their close family members.
Additionally, often through tears, Meghan Markle discussed in the interview how Buckingham Palace dismissed, silenced, and passively abused her. Here are some of the most shocking revelations.
1. Meghan contemplated suicide
While heavily pregnant with Archie in January 2019, Markle revealed that she began to have suicidal thoughts. This was due to the onslaught of negative and defamatory coverage from the British press.
“I just didn’t see a solution”. She explained about the press, “I would sit up at night, and I was just — I don’t understand how all of this is being churned out. I realized that it was all happening just because I was breathing. I was really ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry, especially, because I know how much loss he’s suffered.”
“But I knew that if I didn’t say it, that I would do it. I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.” Markle defined her suicidal ideation as being “very clear,” “methodical,” and not “some abstract idea.”
2. Buckingham Palace denied Meghan mental healthcare
Markle, with the full support of Harry, approached both “the institution” and the palace’s human resources department to seek mental health help. Unfortunately, they denied her any assistance. Prior to this, she was “really ashamed” to tell Harry about her suicidal thoughts; given “how much loss” Harry already suffered with his mother.
“I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help; that I’ve never felt this way before, and I need to go somewhere. And I was told that I couldn’t, that it wouldn’t be good for the institution,” she recalled. “They said, ‘My heart goes out to you. But there’s nothing we can do to protect you because you’re not a paid employee of the institution.’”
Meghan Markle hopes that by sharing her story starting with the interview, more people can better understand mental health struggles: “You have no idea.”
3. Archie was not offered a royal title
Upon the birth of Archie, in May 2019, the press narrative was that Markle and Harry refused giving him an official title so he could have a normal life. However, Markle states that they were never offered the opportunity to decide for themselves.
“While I was pregnant, they said they want to change the convention for Archie. It’s not their right to take it away,” she explained about the royal family. “They didn’t want him to be a prince or a princess. He wasn’t going to receive security.”
“This went on for the last few months of my pregnancy, where I’m going, ‘Hold on for a second. We’re not saying don’t make him a prince. But if you’re saying the title is what’s going to affect the protection, our son needs to be safe.”
Markle said she was never given any satisfying “explanation” about Archie’s title denial.
4. There were concerns about the tone of Archie’s skin
Markle shared a conversation that occurred between Harry and prominent family members while she was pregnant with Archie. There were “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
When pressed by Winfrey to reveal who told Harry such a thing, Markle said that she wouldn’t reveal any names, as it would be too “damaging” to their reputations. Later in the interview, Harry confirmed that the conversation took place, but didn’t want to engage further: “I’m never going to share, but at the time it was awkward and I was a bit shocked.”
5. The Palace played a huge role in Meghan’s smear campaign
Meghan Markle also revealed in the interview that she was not protected by the royal family at all when the UK tabloids targetted her. In fact, she revealed that they left her open to attacks, fed them the rumours, and silenced her so she could not defend herself.
Many believe that this was done as a deal between the royal family and the press to shield other members of the family that actually deserved bad press; like Prince Andrew and his relationship with infamous paedophile and serial abuser Jeffrey Epstein or perhaps Prince William and his infidelity with Kate’s friend.
6. Prince Charles stopped picking Harry’s calls
Prince Charles, the future king of England, cut off communication with Harry days before the couple announced they were stepping back as senior members of the royal family in January 2020. Yes, he knew ahead of time and no one was blindsided by it.
Harry said that he had three conversations with Queen Elizabeth and two conversations with his father prior to being ghosted; with Charles requesting written communication moving forward.
“By that point, I took matters into my own hands. It was like, I need to do this for my family,” Harry explained. “This is not a surprise to anybody. It’s really sad that it’s gotten to this point. But I’ve got to do something for my own mental health, my wife’s, and for Archie’s, as well; because I could see where this was headed.”