Prince Harry on paparazzi: 'I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mom'
In the new documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opened up about the challenges they've been facing as newlyweds and new parents, particularly under harsh media scrutiny in the U.K.
While talking to British journalist Tom Bradby, Harry confirmed that he worries about Meghan being under the same pressure his mother, Princess Diana, was under, before her unfortunate death.
"I will always protect my family, and now I have a family to protect," Harry told Bradby. He continued, "Everything that she went through and what happened to her is incredibly raw, every single day, and that's not me being paranoid. That's just me not wanting a repeat of the past. And if anybody else knew what I knew, be it a father, be it husband, be it anyone, you'd probably be doing exactly what I'm doing as well."
Harry explained that the pressure from the media requires constant management. "Part of this job and part of any job, like everybody, means putting on a brave face and turning a cheek to a lot of this stuff. But again, for me, and for my wife, you know, of course there's a lot of stuff that hurts, especially when the majority of it is untrue. But all we need to do is focus on being real and focus on being the people that we are, and standing up for what we believe in. I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mom," said Harry.
On the penultimate day of Harry and Meghan's tour, Bradby got some one-on-one time with Meghan, who confirmed that she's struggled under the royal scrutiny. "Any woman, especially when they're pregnant, you're really vulnerable. So, that was made really challenging," Meghan explained. "Especially as a woman it's really, it's a lot. So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed." Meghan then thanked Bradby for asking how she's been doing.
"Thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I'm okay, but it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes," said Meghan.
Viewers took to Twitter in full support of the Duchess of Sussex.
Ugh I love Meghan and don’t fully understand how people can be so critical. She’s such a class act and a beautiful representation of our country. New wife! New mom! New family! New role! New home! Y’all. That’s SO much. #HarryAndMeghan pic.twitter.com/DFaZqu51Ue
— Emily Rau (@emilyrau) October 24, 2019
Meghan, your American sisters stand with you. ?💓 #HarryAndMeghan
— Maridee Now (@marideenow) October 24, 2019
Watching #HarryAndMeghan and wonder how humans can be so unkind. Already, I am tearing seeing the incredible people they met and made feel wonderful. Let them do great things and love each other and their children. They have good hearts and will make the world better.
— tracey spiegelman (@tspiegy) October 24, 2019
If you don’t feel any sympathy for Meghan Markle after that interview, I suggest you go check if you still have a pulse.
It even baffles me, as a born and bred British man, that so many British people can be so unabashedly cruel and vindictive. #HarryandMeghan— Piquant (@piquancy_) October 20, 2019
Here’s a thought - if you’re buying these gossip magazines you’re also responsible for making #HarryAndMeghan miserable.
Find a hobby!! pic.twitter.com/dx4EJFy0FO— SAM6 (@travelong6) October 24, 2019
I want to wrap her in an American flag and kick the British tabloids in the teeth. So glad she has Harry by her side and sweet Archie. #HarryAndMeghan pic.twitter.com/JhEDzzJKul
— Katie Speake (@katie_speake) October 24, 2019
Bradby concluded his interview asking Meghan if she can "put up with this and what happens if" she can't. Meghan responded, "It's not enough to just survive something, right? That's not the point of life. You've got to thrive, you've got to feel happy and I think I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a stiff upper lip. I tried. I really tried. But I think that what that does internally is probably really damaging."
Meghan also explained that the hardest part of all the media scrutiny is that it's "just untrue."
"The biggest thing that I know is that I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair, and that's the part that's really hard to reconcile," shared Meghan.
Harry & Meghan: An African Journey aired on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. on ABC.
Check out Gwen Stefani and Kelly Clarkson being brought to tears over emotional night on ‘The Voice’:
Read more from Yahoo! Entertainment:
Final trailer for ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ leaves Twitter heartbroken
Sean Hannity slams Mitt Romney for Donald Trump criticism: ‘Are you just jealous?’
All three ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestants struggle to solve super simple puzzle
Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle's newsletter.