Meghan Markle: 'Not many people have asked if I'm OK - it's a struggle'

The Duchess of Sussex has spoken about being both pregnant and a mother in the spotlight, admitting it has been ‘a struggle’.

As part of a one-hour ITV documentary, filmed during the recent tour of South Africa that she embarked on earlier this month with Prince Harry and baby Archie, Meghan Markle has revealed that she’s struggling with the pressures she’s facing.

READ MORE: Harry and Meghan are ‘on a mission to redefine how the press operates’

When asked about the impact of pressure on her health, a video clip from the documentary shows the emotional duchess answering:

“Look, any woman especially when they are pregnant, you’re really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging, and then when you have a newborn – you know…

“And especially as a woman, it’s a lot. So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom [sic] or trying to be a newlywed it’s, well…

Speaking to Tom Bradby, a friend of Prince Harry, the Duchess continues:

“And, also thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”

The interviewer then asks the royal if she’s “not really OK, as in it’s really been a struggle?” to which Meghan replies: “Yes”.

Meghan Markle’s life has changed considerably in the past two years.

She’s married into one of the most famous families in the world and simultaneously sacrificed her career as well as becoming a mother.

As a result, she features in hundreds, if not thousands, of articles a week – both online and in print – and receives more media attention than almost any other person in the world.

The attention prompted Prince Harry to release an emotional statement addressing the treatment of his wife by certain media outlets in the British press.

READ MORE: Prince Harry’s statement in full

The statement, published on the pair’s official website, followed the revelation that the couple are suing The Mail On Sunday for publishing one of Meghan’s private letters to her father, Thomas Markle.

Days later, it was announced that Harry is reportedly taking legal action against two other publications over “the alleged illegal interception of voicemail messages”.

A number of celebrities have joined Harry in publicly defending Meghan.

George Clooney, who attended the former actress’ wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018, told a press panel that she’s been “pursued and vilified”.

Hillary Clinton has also defended the mum-of-one, telling The Sunday Times: “I do want to say that the way she's been treated is inexplicable.”

READ MORE: Piers Morgan criticises ‘woke princess’ Meghan Markle, calls racist abuse ‘nonsense’

The full interview will air as part of ‘Harry & Meghan: An African Journey’, this Sunday at 9pm on ITV.