It’s been such an emotional couple of hours for the media world, thanks to Duchess Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Here is a look into why this interview has touched so many and made some review what they have come to believe about the biggest and greatest institution on earth — The Royal Family.
In the early hours of March 7th, 2021, CBS aired one of the most anticipated interviews in recent times, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
As expected, the Meghan Markle interview was everything it promised to be and more. It has left many emotional as they learned about Meghan’s pain while living as a royal family member.
Going into the royal family, Meghan had an idea of what was expected of her and what she would have to give up to fit in as a royal.
She always thought she would never have to give up her voice — she was wrong.
The first time she had a glimpse of what she was in for was her first meeting with the Queen. She was having lunch at the royal lodge with Prince Harry, Sarah Ferguson, and Princess Eugenie.
The meeting was impromptu, and no one expected the Queen who was finishing a church service at the time to be in attendance.
Because it was an informal event, Meghan was surprised when Harry asked her if she knew how to curtsy.
Of course, she didn’t. Harry took her out to teach her the art of curtsy, and she was very much prepared when she met the Queen, who was splendid, of course.
She would soon find out that learning to curtsy was the littlest of her worries. Things went straight downhill a few months after their wedding.
Six months after the infamous royal wedding, the tabloids allegedly reported that Meghan had made her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton cry just before the wedding.
Meghan alleged that this couldn’t be farther from the truth. According to Meghan, not only did she not make Middleton cry, but the reverse was the case — Middleton made her cry.
Meghan told Oprah that there was an incident about the bridesmaids’ dresses just before the wedding that got Middleton upset. She said:
“she was upset about something, and she owned it, and she apologized and sent flowers and a note, apologizing.”
The way things were twisted to make her seem like the bad guy, coupled with the fact that Middleton was not allowed to refute the claims or say anything about it, made Meghan feel helpless and betrayed.
To her, the institution that promised to protect her had failed her. And that wasn’t the end of it. She soon became the talk of most media outlets, and most of what was said about her were negative. She said to Oprah,
“I did anything they told me to do. Of course, I did because it was also through the lens of ‘And we’ll protect you.’ So, even as things started to roll out in the media that I didn’t see, but my friends would call me and say, ‘Meg, this is really bad,’ because I didn’t see it, I’d go, ‘Don’t worry. I’m being protected.'”
The character assassination took its toll on Meghan. But she kept putting on a brave face, going to functions, and smiling at events like everything was fine.
Things didn’t get easier, and after the birth of their son, Archie, in 2019, there were lots of conversations about whether he should be given a title or not. This she revealed may have had something to do with his race and skin color.
Meghan soon reached her lowest and started having suicidal thoughts. Thoughts she was initially ashamed to talk to her husband about.
She, however, summoned courage and told Harry about her darkest thoughts. That was when they knew they had to do something about their mental health and safety.
Meghan informed the institution and told them she needed to seek professional help. According to her, the response she got was:
“I remember this conversation like it was yesterday, because they said, ‘My heart goes out to you, because I see how bad it is, but there’s nothing we can do to protect you, because you’re not a paid employee of the institution.”
Watching Meghan share her truth during the interview left many heartbroken. People have since reacted to the interview on social media, showing solidarity and understanding for Meghan’s pain.
Last year, Harry and Meghan left Britain for America in what seemed like a dramatic move that many have termed Megxit.
Listening to Meghan and Harry pour out their hearts during their Oprah Winfrey interview, many now have an insight into why it was not only a needed move but a compulsory one for them to keep their sanity and live the kind of life they deem befitting.
Meghan and Harry are also expecting a baby girl due to come later this year.