Buckingham Palace to investigate why Meghan Markle wasn’t offered mental health support while feeling suicidal
BUCKINGHAM Palace is to investigate why Meghan Markle wasn’t given support for mental health problems that she says left her feeling suicidal. The Duchess of Sussex, 39, told Oprah Winfrey during the bombshell interview aired this week that she sought help after telling Prince Harry she “didn’t want to be alive anymore”. But she said […]
BUCKINGHAM Palace is to investigate why Meghan Markle wasn’t given support for mental health problems that she says left her feeling suicidal.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, told Oprah Winfrey during the bombshell interview aired this week that she sought help after telling Prince Harry she “didn’t want to be alive anymore”.
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But she said she had been told she would not be able to seek help as it “wouldn’t be good for the institution”.
She says when she reached out for help with the Palace’s Human Resources team, she was told because she was not a paid employee, she could not be supported.
A senior royal source said Palace aides would be looking into Meghan’s claims she asked for mental health support but was refused it.
But the source added: “One of the things that will be looked at is why on earth did poor Meghan go to the Palace HR department for help and not to senior members of the Family?
“They have medical households full of medical experts that could have helped with everything.”
During the explosive interview with Oprah, Prince Harry said he had not spoken to his family to get support, saying: “That’s just not a conversation that would be had.”
He added: “I guess I was ashamed of admitting it to them.”
It comes as…
- Queen is to privately quiz senior royals over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s race claims
- Her Majesty revealed she was “saddened” as she finally responded to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s race claims
- Palace fears Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might ‘name and shame’ royal who made remark about Archie’s skin
- Hillary Clinton says ‘cruelty’ against Meghan Markle was ‘outrageous’ as she blasts royals for not supporting duchess
- Piers Morgan quit Good Morning Britain after refusing to apologise on air over Meghan Markle row
News of the probe came after the Queen announced Buckingham Palace would be investigating Meghan’s claims of racism with senior royals personally quizzed.
Duchess of Sussex sensationally alleged there were conversations with Harry and a “family” member about their unborn son Archie and what colour his skin would be – and “what that would mean or look like”.
She also alleged Archie wasn’t made a prince after “concerns and conversations” about “how dark” his skin would be when he was born.
Breaking down in tears during the interview, pregnant Meghan told Oprah: “I just didn’t see a solution. I didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
One night, while suffering suicidal thoughts, Meghan claimed that she forced herself to go to an event with Harry, 36, because she felt she couldn’t be left alone, for fear of what she might do.
And she said while the lights were down during the Cirque du Soleil premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in January 2019, she was “weeping” while clutching Harry’s hand until his knuckles were white.
The Duchess of Sussex, who was six months pregnant at the time, said she would cry while the lights were down in the royal box before she would compose herself for the cameras and smile during the intervals.
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Meghan revealed: “I was ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry because of how much loss he suffered.
“But I knew that if I didn’t say it I would do it – because I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. That was a very clear and real and frightening, constant thought.”
She later said Harry “saved” her by ultimately quitting the Royal Family, adding: “I think he saved all of us.”
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123