Prince Harry Speaks Out on Meghan Markle’s Online Abuse: “It Was a Lived Experience”

Prince Harry Speaks Out on Meghan Markle’s Online Abuse: “It Was a Lived Experience”

Prince Harry has publicly addressed the intense and often harmful online abuse directed at his wife, Meghan Markle, revealing the emotional toll it has taken on their family and how it continues to fuel their advocacy for digital reform.

> “There was a lived experience,” Harry stated, highlighting how the couple’s work through the Archewell Foundation was deeply influenced by stories from parents who had tragically lost children to the negative impacts of social media, including suicide.

He emphasized that as life becomes more challenging for many people, empathy can diminish — a trend he believes is particularly dangerous in the digital age. Harry called for a more compassionate and mindful approach to online interactions, especially among younger generations.

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The Toll of Online Harassment

Since going public with their relationship in 2017, Meghan Markle has been subject to intense media scrutiny and relentless online criticism. Following their marriage in 2018, the attacks escalated, particularly during her pregnancy in 2019.

In a candid 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed the psychological impact of the abuse, describing her experience as “almost unsurvivable.”

> “I didn’t want to be alive anymore,” she admitted. “I was up at night just thinking, ‘How is all of this being created?’”

Her vulnerability underscored the darker realities of public life in a hyper-connected world.

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Moving Forward Through Advocacy

In 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties and relocated to Montecito, California. Since then, they have continued their advocacy through the Archewell Foundation, focusing on building a safer digital environment, combating misinformation, and supporting mental health initiatives.

Prince Harry’s remarks serve as a reminder of the profound consequences digital abuse can have — and the urgent need for systemic change to protect individuals, particularly young people, from its harm.