Duchess Meghan, 39, is the reason why Prince Harry, 36, left the royal family, many observers are sure. The number six in the line of succession to the British throne clears up this rumour. "I always wanted to be normal, the opposite of Prince Harry, just Harry," he clarifies, describing his life as part of the monarchy as "confusing". Even as a child, he saw his mother being chased by the paparazzi. The early death of the princess traumatizes him. But no one in his family helped him cope, Harry claims today. The car accident was a taboo subject.
When he grew up, he was tormented by anxiety and panic attacks. "Before I left the house I was drenched in sweat and my heart rate was racing," he recalls. In his late 20s, he seriously asked himself if he really "should be here." Relatives told him that he should simply play "the game" of the monarchy and the media, and that would make his life easier. "But I have a damn lot of my mother in me," stresses Harry in the documentary series. He felt like he was outside the royal system, but trapped in it at the same time.
Burnout from too much work
"Towards my late 20s, everything got really hectic for me, to the point of exhaustion," the father-of-one tells Oprah Winfrey in the second episode of the series. "I've been all over the place because, from a family perspective, I was the person who likes it. 'We need someone to go there. Nepal. Harry, you go'". He always said yes to everything – and many yeses eventually led to burnout.
Prince Charles + Duchess Camilla Christmas greeting with an important message117 pictures Prince Harry was afraid that Meghan Markle would separate from him
In July 2016, the 31-year-old met his future wife — and this inspired him to get serious about therapy. He has met doctors and experts for mental problems before. But: "It was getting to know and being with Meghan. I knew that if I didn't do therapy and fix myself, I would lose this woman with whom I could spend the rest of my life." He found that "if this relationship [with Meghan] was going to work, he had to deal with his past because there was anger and it wasn't anger at her."
During therapy he noticed that he was living "in a bubble" in the royal family and was trapped in his thinking. Today the prince, who is still being looked after professionally, is doing much better. "I'm more comfortable in my own skin now. I don't get panic attacks. I've learned more about myself in the last four years than in the 32 years before. And I have my wife to thank for that."
Duchess Meghan wanted to take her own life
Meghan also suffered from serious psychological problems: she did not feel comfortable in the palace and was exposed to a media hunt. On the evening of January 16, 2019, just before a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London and four months before the birth of her son Archie, the darkest day in the couple's relationship came: Meghan admits her suicidal thoughts.
"She was perfectly sane, but in the stillness of the night they got her mind agitated," Harry recalls on The Me You Can't See. "What got her through this situation was the thought of me and what happened to me in the past. She didn't want to put me in the position of losing another woman in my life - with a baby, our baby, inside her." He was ashamed of how he had dealt with Meghan's revelation. A quick hug and they were jumped in the car and drove to the Royal Albert Hall to do her duty there - and to pretend everything was fine.
Information on offers of help
Are you having suicidal thoughts? The telephone counseling service offers help. She is anonymous, free of charge and available around the clock on 0800/1110111 and 0800/1110222. A list of nationwide help centers can be found on the website of the "German Society for Suicide Prevention".
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan received no help from the royals
Harry admits that he was angry with himself because he and Meghan could not free himself and Meghan from the situation. And not only that: he was ashamed again. This time because he went to his family about his wife's problems - knowing full well that they would not give him what he needed. Nevertheless, the prince apparently had hope – and, according to him, was bitterly disappointed. "I thought my family would help. But every single question, request, warning, whatever, is only answered with utter silence and utter disregard."
Harry fears Meghan will be hunted to death like his mother
"History repeats itself. My mother was hunted to death while she was in a relationship with someone who was not white" , Prince Harry refers to the relationship between Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed, thereby renewing the allegations of racism against the press made in March 2021. Harry adds of his wife: "They won't stop until she dies. It's an incredible trigger to potentially lose another woman in my life."
Harry didn't want to raise Archie alone
For four years, from 2016 to 2020, he and Meghan Markle tried everything to fulfill their roles in the royal family, says Prince Harry to Oprah Winfrey. Unsuccessful. He felt trapped and saw no way to free himself. Then the turning point. "I then had a son that I wanted to focus on rather than asking myself every time I look into his eyes if my wife will end up like my mother and I'll have to take care of him on my own . That was one of the biggest reasons for leaving: to feel trapped and controlled by fear."
The Royal Family wanted to prevent the Megxit
"When I finally made that decision for my family to [leave], I was still told, 'You can't do this.' And I thought, 'Well, how bad does it have to get before I'm allowed to do that?' She [Meghan] was about to end her life. It wasn't supposed to come to that." On January 8, 2020, the Sussexes announced on Instagram that they were stepping down as senior royals after lengthy discussions. You're moving to Canada first, then to the US in March. First in Beverly Hills to a friend's mansion, then to her own home in Montecito. A year later, the couple shared their story in a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey. Shortly before that, Meghan has to cope with a setback.
Duchess Meghan in tears over allegations of bullying
"I was woken up in the middle of the night because she [Meghan] was crying into her pillow," reveals Prince Harry in the documentary about a situation that happened two days before the Oprah talk aired. His wife didn't want to wake him up because he "already carries too much around with him". The Duke of Sussex found two culprits for the emotional breakdown: the media and the palace, because they launched a smear campaign against Meghan and spread rumors of bullying about her. He found the situation in question "heartbreaking", says Harry. "I held her, we talked, she cried and cried and cried."
Duchess Meghan "The Times" reports: She is said to have bullied palace employees With the Oprah interview, Prince Harry wanted to get closer to his family
With the Oprah revelations about suicidal thoughts , racism and disappointment in the royal family, the Sussexes have caused a media furore. While many outsiders see the conversation as a nail in the coffin for Harry and the royal family's relationship, the prince has a very different take on the matter. In "The Me You Can't See," he describes the interview as "real and authentic," stating, "I think we were able to speak truths in the most compassionate way possible, opening an opening for reconciliation and healing permit."
Sources used: AppleTV+, people.com, mailonline.co.ukjre Gala
