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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have given a new TV interview to talk about their new initiative to support parents of children affected by online harm – and despite not mentioning the Royal Family, one expert believes it was an ‘elephant in the room’
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Meghan Markle opens up on suicidal thoughts in CBS interview
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s rift with the Royal Family appears as ‘great as ever’ – and it continues to hurt both sides, an expert has claimed.
The Sussexes sat down for an interview with US TV programme, CBS Sunday Morning, yesterday about a new initiative supporting parents of children affected by online harm. It was the couple’s first joint interview in more than three years since their bombshell chat with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
In that interview, the pair railed against their royal relatives and their experience after Meghan joined the Firm. However, in this new sit-down chat, it was firmly focused on their new initiative.
According to royal expert and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop, the Sussexes were careful not to revisit old scores when it came to the Royal Family – but she believes the Firm were “the elephant in the room”. She told the Mirror: “Despite all their well-intentioned good works and conciliatory talk in other fields, the chasm between the Sussexes and the British Royals remains as great as ever.
“Until there is genuine open contact between the House of Windsor and the Sussexes, Harry and Meghan’s pain thesis will continue to wound, undermining credibility on both sides. As the Duchess explained on Sunday, if her sharing helps others ‘then that’s worth it. I’ll take a hit for that’.”
The expert added: “In the style of their trip to Nigeria, soon Harry and Meghan will take off for Colombia, all in the name of service. And rather than being a service that compliments the philanthropic brand the British royal family established, it will be in opposition to it. If only both parties could remember they are stronger together. That doesn’t mean a reunited Harry and Meghan inside the royal fold, but public reconciliation and communication.”
Elsewhere in the chat, Meghan once again opened up about her suicidal thoughts. She first talked about her experience in the Oprah interview, revealing: “I just didn’t want to be alive any more.” In the latest chat, she said she “hasn’t really scratched the surface” of talking about her experience.
Tessa added: “Drawing from the New Model Royals’ own playbook on pain, CBS anchor Jane Pauley forced the couple to take standard philanthropy that bit further and link their pain to those they are helping. Didn’t Meghan once consider suicide?
“The Duchess confessed she was not expecting the question, Pauley noted it was uncomfortable for Meghan, who reached to touch Harry in just the way Pauley anticipated. Meghan was forced to admit there was a ‘through-line’ between her experience and those families who have lost a child to suicide.
“She talked of the need to be ‘really open about it’ before Meghan admitted she ‘hadn’t really scrapped the surface’ of her own pain. Wow. There it was, out in the open once more. The extremity of Meghan’s dark thoughts when working as a British princess. Breakdown what Meghan said and her healing journey (one she believes is so important), remains incomplete.
“Clearly a session on Oprah was insufficient when it came to being ‘really open’ about her suicidal plight inside the Royal Family.”
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch.
