Meghan Markle opens up about royal trauma: ‘killing yourself ‘
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently sat down for their first joint interview in three years, opening up about their new initiative, The Parents Network, and Meghan’s past struggles with suicidal thoughts. The interview aired on CBS Sunday Morning with host Jane Pauley.
The Parents Network launched through their Archewell Foundation, aims to support families who have lost children to suicide following experiences of online bullying. For Meghan, 43, this project is deeply personal, as she has previously revealed her own battles with self-harm during her time as a working member of the Royal Family.
During the interview, Meghan emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating she “would never want someone else to not be believed.” As she spoke, she reached out to touch Harry’s leg for comfort. Jane Pauley addressed Meghan’s past experiences directly, saying, “You had an experience that connects you to these families – and I see you touch your husband’s hand in just the way I knew that you would be looking after each other if I went places – but the connection that you have with people is they know you had suffered, too, personally. Contemplating killing yourself is what suicidal ideation is. And I’m dancing around this because I could see you’re uncomfortable with my even going there…”
Meghan, who recently celebrated her 43rd birthday, responded, “I understand why you are, though – I wasn’t expecting it, but I understand why you are, because there is a through-line, I think. And when you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey (certainly part of mine) is being able to be really open about it. And you know, I haven’t really scraped the surface of my experience.”
She continued, “But I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way. And I would never want someone else to be making those sorts of plans. And I would never want someone else to not be believed.”
Meghan concluded by explaining the potential impact of sharing her story: “So, if me voicing what I have overcome will save someone, or encourage someone in their life to really genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good, so everything’s okay, then that’s worth it. I’ll take a hit for that.”
Meghan and Harry’s candid discussion highlights their commitment to raising awareness about mental health issues and supporting those affected by online bullying and suicide. Their new initiative, The Parents Network, aims to create a supportive community for families and make a meaningful impact on mental health awareness.