Meghan Markle appeared to reach out for Prince Harry’s “support” in a shared television interview with CBS Sunday Morning last year. During the emotionally charged interview, focusing on matters close to their hearts, they introduced The Parents Network – the couple’s new initiative supporting families who have lost children to suicide from cyberbullying.
Body language expert Judi James provided analysis for The Mirror, identifying three particular gestures from Meghan. She said: “As Meghan shares her own story of suicidal thoughts, she performs several hair-preen rituals and a wry, mirthless smile that suggests she is being politely brave.
“Her hand goes out to hold Harry’s leg as though seeking his support although he sits relatively still with his head cocked, watching her face with what looks like concern.”
She also observed Harry’s reaction, and told The Mirror: “When he looks down his fingers rub together in what looks like anxiety as Meghan describes what she has ‘overcome’ after ‘not being believed’.”
During the interview, the host Jane Pauley, asked about Meghan’s own personal struggle. Meghan confessed: “When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey-certainly part of mine-is being able to be really open about it.
“I really scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way and I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans and I would never want someone else to not be believed.”
She furthered her message, stating: “If me voicing what I have overcome will save someone or encourage someone in their life to really, genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good so everything is okay, then that’s worth it. I’ll take a hit for that.”
The Parents’ Network offers ‘comprehensive advice and resources provided by a licensed facilitator’, serving as a lifeline for those seeking guidance.
Speaking about online bullying, Harry said: “That’s the scariest thing, it could happen to anybody. We always talk about in the olden days if your children were under your roof they would be safe, you knew what they were up to.”
In April this year, the Sussexes unveiled a memorial in New York City dedicated to the memory of children whose families believe harmful material online contributed to their deaths.
“We want to make sure that things are changed so that… no more kids are lost to social media,” Prince Harry told BBC Breakfast in New York.
Prince Harry also stated that he was “grateful” that his children were still too young to be online.
