*Trigger Warning: suicide ideation alluded to in this article*

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, sat down with Oprah Winfrey to discuss their version of the truth regarding the royal family and their own experiences on the inside. While the interview was sure to unearth hard truths, it was much more revealing and damaging than people thought. Among many of the allegations that the two made against the royal family. Meghan spoke about racism within the royal family and her experience with suicidal thoughts during her pregnancy.  

Prior to the interview, Meghan had alluded to her struggle with mental health, but this interview was the first time that she openly discussed her thoughts of suicide and just how much she did struggle. She discussed her feelings of isolation and loneliness and how she felt unsupported by the royal family, which led to suicidal thoughts while pregnant with Archie, her son. While experiencing suicidal thoughts and struggles with her mental health, Meghan did say that she sought out the royal family for help but was told that seeking help would reflect poorly on the family. 

Meghan and Harry also discussed racism during their Oprah interview. Meghan said that the royal family was very concerned with the possible skin tone of their son Archie while she was pregnant. Meghan went on to explain that the family had these conversations with Harry rather than with her. While Harry was not comfortable sharing the entirety of the conversation with Oprah, he did explain how he felt extremely uncomfortable during this discussion and was in utter shock about his family’s remarks about his unborn child’s skin color. 

Along with mental health struggles and alleged raims, Meghan and Harry also explained how they felt trapped within the family. Harry expressed how he felt that both his brother and his father were trapped within the family as he uncovered the extreme constraints and restrictions that each member experienced. Harry expressed his feelings of compassion that he has towards his other family members who he feels are trapped within the royal family system. Meghan explained how her passport, keys, and driver’s license were turned over when joining the royal family and how her sense of freedom and independence were stripped from her. 

Both Meghan and Harry said that the lack of support and understanding that they felt played a huge role in their decision to split from the royal family. Harry went on to explain that he felt that “history was repeating itself” and that what he saw happened to his mother, he felt was happening to him and his wife. While he felt the scenarios were similar, he added that social media and racism added to their own challenges. After the couple’s security was removed, Harry and Meghan decided to move to the United States rather than to a Commonwealth country. 

While many of the members of the family were not spoken highly of by the couple, the Queen was the exception. Harry said that they have spoken to her several times since deciding to move to the states and that he and his grandmother continue to have a very good relationship. He revealed that his other relationships, such as those with his father and brother, are very strained unlike the one with his grandmother. 

At the end of the Oprah interview, the couple repealed that Meghan is pregnant with a baby girl. They both expressed how thankful they are to be having another child and that they will have both a son and a daughter. While they are excited about their daughter, Meghan expressed that she is not planning to have another child and that “two is it” (CNN World). 

While their lives today look a lot different than they did a year ago, Meghan and Harry expressed how beneficial it has been to have outdoor space and quality time with their son in California and how their lives have changed for the better since leaving the royal family despite some initial bumps in the road.