Meghan Markle says Prince Harry had 'guttural' reaction to US abortion ruling
Meghan Markle has opened up about the recent US abortion ruling, calling Prince Harry's reaction to the news "guttural" and describing her husband as a "feminist".
In a new joint interview for Vogue, the Duchess of Sussex and American feminist icon Gloria Steinem shared their thoughts on the US Supreme Court's controversial ruling to overturn Roe v Wade.
Last week, the US Supreme court ended constitutional protections for abortion that have been in place for nearly 50 years by deciding to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade ruling.
When asked what she would say to men who support reproductive rights, Markle, 40, told journalist Jessica Yellin that men "need to be vocal in this moment and beyond because these are decisions that affect relationships, families, and communities at large".
"They may target women, but the consequences impact all of us," she continued. "My husband and I talked about that a lot over the past few days.
"He’s a feminist too."
Steinem confirmed she knows Prince Harry to be an advocate for "people's rights".
"And his reaction last week was guttural, like mine," Markle added.
"I know that for so many women right now, there is a sentiment of despair. But again, we have to band together and not wallow. We have to do the work."
Watch: Right to abortion overturned by US Supreme Court
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Discussing the fallout of the ruling in the US, Markle said she believed it was already having "a very real impact on women's bodies and lives".
"Women are already sharing stories of how their physical safety is being put in danger," she said, before going on to detail some of the issues including those women with resources having to travel to get an abortion and those without possibly giving themselves one "at tremendous risk".
The royal went on to explain that some women will also be forced to find abortion pills from unregulated pharmacies and others who are pregnant and find themselves in a medical emergency will “be at the mercy” of doctors and lawyers.
"What does this tell women?" she continued. "It tells us that our physical safety doesn’t matter, and as a result that we don’t matter. But we do. Women matter."
The duchess said she believed the ruling was going to have a disproportionate effect on women of colour and that it was “difficult to overstate” what it would mean for them.
However, she also claimed it wasn't just a women's issue, with the ruling representing “a blueprint for reversing rights”, including same-sex marriage, contraception access and "fundamental rights to privacy".
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Discussing how the issue can be addressed Markle said the moment "requires unity."
"Really listening to people, understanding the Constitution was written at a time when women were second-class citizens. We’re not. Certain things need to change," she said.
She went on to say she tries to look at things "with the undercurrent of hope".
"If you are someone who truly believes that there can be something better, if you’re someone who sees injustice, you have a choice: You can sit there and be complacent and watch it, or you can say, 'What can I do to get us to the other side of this?'"
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Markle's thoughts on the controversial subject come as it was revealed she recently joined an entrepreneurship course for young people as a guest coach to give "inspiring and encouraging" feedback.
The royal visited non-profit initiative Project Fearless in Amsterdam in April while in the Netherlands for the Invictus Games.
The group, founded by Mérida Miller in 2019, aims to equip girls and non-binary kids (aged nine-14) with the tools to succeed in any aspect of their lives through after-school courses ranging from climate science to skateboarding, kickboxing to entrepreneurship and more.
Earlier this month Markle and Prince Harry made an appearance in the UK at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which marked the couple's first official engagement in their capacity since stepping back as working royals in March 2020, and moving to California.
