Meghan Markle 'feeling the strain' after more time apart from Prince Harry and fresh 'Duchess Difficult' accusations

After Meghan Markle made a triumphant return to the red carpet while Prince Harry was busy charming the masses at various solo events all around the world, a source tells OK! that the Duchess of Sussex is starting to feel the strain of their new dynamic. The couple haven’t been seen together in public for over a month as 40-year-old Harry has travelled across three continents without his wife of six years - or their two children - by his side.

But while the couple are no doubt used to the rumours of them living almost separate lives, our source says the pressure of the recent weeks is starting to get to Meghan, 43. “She has really felt the strain in recent weeks, and with all the speculation surrounding her and Harry and their marriage,” they claimed.

“They haven’t done themselves any favours by doing so many separate events but this is what they have decided to do as it works best for them at the moment as a couple and they both feel they can shine at events that are close to their hearts. But it does upset her that, while Harry was getting praised for all of his appearances, she is getting criticised for what she says, what she wears etc and it brings back hurtful memories of when she was a royal.”

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Meghan’s glamorous walk onto the red carpet at an Los Angeles children’s hospital gala last month, dressed in a fiery red low-cut gown with her tousled hair hanging loose, appeared to send a very clear message - the Hollywood star was back.

Then a few days later she stepped out again, looking incredibly demure in smart white trousers and a blue buttoned shirt, to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child at the Girl Inc. in Greater Santa Barbara. The non-profit was launching a new programme - Social Media U - to encourage teenage girls to create healthy relationships with technology and tackle issues like body image and mental health, with the help of funding from Meghan and Harry’s Archewell Foundation.

But after one of the founders of the charity told an American magazine that Meghan “talked about being one of the most bullied people in the world”, it put the Duchess back in the centre of a bullying saga. After the article was released, a source then claimed to the New York Post that Meghan “never claimed” she was the most bullied person in the world, but simply “talked about her experience with online bullying”.

Our source says the latest incident has made the former Suits actress feel like she can’t do right for doing for wrong. “She felt very bullied and scrutinised back when she was a working royal, and she feels the bullying is returning,” they said. “She wants people to remember how tough she has had it and is trying to get the public back onside. And it’s hard to hear the constant speculation about her marriage and her and Harry living separate lives, because as much as she tries to ignore it, sometimes it gets the better of her.”

While a full-time return to the UK still seems incredibly unlikely, they have however taken a big leap that brings them one step closer - buying a property in Melides in Portugal, where Princess Eugenie and George Clooney also own homes. Our source claims the pad - which reportedly cost upwards of £6m and added to locals' fury about their once public beach being taken over by A-listers - was a compromise for Harry and Meghan and could be a much-needed olive branch for King Charles, 75.

"It gives them an escape outside of America and means they can safely holiday in Europe in the sunshine," they said. "When they’re there, Harry can easily go to England if he feels the need to, and it also gives friends and some members of the family the opportunity to visit them as it’s only a short flight. The invitation for Charles to come and see his grandchildren is there and now it will be up to them whether they take it up."

While the couple have made their feelings about Meghan’s treatment in the UK abundantly clear - with Harry once describing the UK media as the “devil” - the American press has always been somewhat kinder about them. But that changed recently when The Hollywood Reporter ran an article about the slew of staff resignations from Meghan and Harry’s inner circle, which included their chief of staff and global press secretary.

As well as claims that Meghan had “noisy tantrums” and sent angry emails at 5am, it also quoted sources saying everyone was “terrified” of her and branded her “Duchess Difficult”. Amid a backlash from Meghan fans, the editor of the magazine defended the article and said the reporter spoke to around a dozen people and most of them “worked very closely with the couple in various capacities”.

Meghan has always denied any claims of bullying or being a difficult boss, and in an old episode of her Archetypes podcast she said “You're allowed to set a boundary. You're allowed to be clear. It does not make you demanding. It does not make you difficult. Makes you clear."

According to our source, now that she has Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, to think about too, she’s even more determined to limit the negativity thrown in her and Harry’s direction, even if that means spending more time apart to focus on their work.

“She is very strong, both by herself and with Harry, and she refuses to be beaten as she wants to make sure the children aren’t affected by anything that goes on outside the home. The happiness of Archie and Lili will always be her number one priority and she will always put them first, which is why she doesn’t always go away with Harry as she hates leaving them for long periods of time.”