Last night, the highly anticipated tell-all Oprah interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aired on CBS and it was explosive, to say the least...
So much so...
That a lot of revelations were made about the couple's experiences with the royal family and how tough things really became for them.
It's sure to have shocked and moved viewers...
But perhaps the most moving revelation of them all was Meghan's conversation about losing a lot since becoming a royal.
Now, many would argue that, since stepping down as senior royals in January 2020, the scrutiny surrounding Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, has intensified to unimaginable levels.
In a joint statement via Instagram, Harry and Meghan announced that they wanted "a normal upbringing for their child" and they felt that spending their time between the U.K. and America would be much more appropriate for their family environment.
Quite understandably, this came as a huge shock worldwide...
via: Getty
As it did to the royal family themselves.
Reports at the time of the announcement claimed that the Queen wasn't notified of Harry and Meghan's plans to step down until after their social media revealation.
via: Getty
Her Majesty published a statement shortly afterward, which read:
"Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through."
But, regardless of the controversy, the couple stuck to their word and made the move to Los Angeles...
via: Getty
Where they remain today in Montecito, Santa Barbara, an area renowned for its secluded hillside estates that promise the utmost privacy and, thus, have attracted a whole host of celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, and Ellen DeGeneres, who all own homes there.
The pair seem to be living the lives they've always wanted in L.A...
Aw! Such incredible news. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting a second baby. Beautiful image. Happy Valentine’s Day all! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3v0M3NtHQy
— Sarah Packer (@Sarah_EmilyP) February 14, 2021
And to make things even more exciting, they announced on Valentine's Day that they are expecting their second child together with this highly-publicized photoshoot.
But despite the big move and step down, the couple still weren't content with their roles in the British monarchy...
So, last month, they announced that they would officially not be returning as working members of the royal family.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said the royals were "saddened by their decision" but that Harry and Meghan "remain much-loved members of the family."
"Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service," the statement read.
"The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family."
Predictably, the announcement triggered a media storm...
I'm a Commonwealth citizen - old enough to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh awards & wave a Union Jack. I'm young enough to see my country become a Republic. Meghan & Harry look like the Commonwealth. They are young, vibrant. This is the Royal Family's loss.
— Ceci (@cecijande) February 19, 2021
And among all of the love and support came the negativity and surges of criticism.
In the weeks following their dramatic departure, the couple remained relatively under the radar...
Until Harry took part in a widely televised interview with friend and host, James Corden, for The Late Late Show.
Here, Harry revealed - for the first time - the reason he and Meghan stepped away from the royal family.
YouTube / The Late Late Show with James Corden
When asked, "what made you walk away from the royal family?", Harry politely corrected him by saying, "I didn't walk away."
"It was stepping back rather than stepping down. It was a really difficult environment that I think a lot of people saw... we all know what the British press can be like! And it was destroying my mental health, I was like 'this is toxic!'"
"I did what any husband and father would do."
YouTube / The Late Late Show with James Corden
"I needed to get my family out of there!" he then said.
"But we never walked away. And as far as I'm concerned whatever decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away. I will always be contributing but my life is public service, so wherever I am in the world it's going to be the same thing."
"My life is always going to be about public service and Meghan signed up for that."
YouTube / The Late Late Show with James Corden
"The 2 of us enjoy doing that and trying to bring compassion and try to make people happy, and try to change the world in any small way we can," he explained.
Following this groundbreaking interview, it was then announced that the couple had sat with their friend and broadcasting giant, Oprah Winfrey, for a tell-all interview.
Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special will air on Sunday, March 7 at 8 P.M. EST on CBS. pic.twitter.com/XEa7GZ1hVA
— Duchess Meg (@duchessmegfan) February 15, 2021
Snippets of the interviews were teased throughout the past week.
And as soon as they did, we knew this wasn't an interview to be missed...
With the teasers showing Meghan talking candidly to Oprah about her experience with the royal family and how she isn't afraid of the consequences of speaking out against the palace.
Well, the moment that the entire world has been waiting for came last night...
The interview was finally aired on CBS and, of course, it triggered a storm that nobody quite expected.
Meghan made some mind-blowing allegations against the royal family...
While admitting to struggling with her mental health and "feeling suicidal" during her pregnancy with Archie.
"I just didn't see a solution," she said candidly during the chat, discussing the toll of the vitriol that was thrown her way.
"Look, I was really ashamed to have to say [I was suicidal] at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry especially, because I know how much loss he's suffered, but I knew that if I didn't say that I would do it."
"I just didn't want to be alive anymore."
"It takes so much courage to admit you need help," she then added, "to admit how dark of a place you're in."
Meghan also spoke about how much she's lost since joining the royal family from her dad to her baby.
Opening up about her miscarriage and it's hit the internet hard...
Hearing Meghan speak so openly about not wanting to live while facing public appearances and adding “I lost a baby” hits me so incredibly hard. Miscarriage has such profound effects. Media hate has dire consequences. I’ve experienced similar vitriol. It ALL marks a person deeply.
— Stephanie Land (@stepville) March 8, 2021
My heart broke while watching Meghan explain the constant terrorizing she was receiving while the Royals stood by. When she said she lost so much & referenced her miscarriage, I choked up.
— Bre (@breranae) March 8, 2021
British people be like "be kind" then bully Meghan markle whos pregnant and suffered from a miscarriage and spoke on thoughts of suicide. pic.twitter.com/0PTYm264Tl
— ' (@leighzmani) March 8, 2021
The institution bullied pregnant Meghan so she could have a miscarriage or die, when that didn't happen they took away their security thinking that would lead Harry to divorce her. These people aren't human.
— Marcella (@marolitsa) March 8, 2021
#OprahMeghanHarry #MeghanMarkle
Probably one of the most painful truths of Meghan’s life is that she had a miscarriage during all this and I bet it was caused by stress of having to go through the racist atrocity that is the monarchy. #MeghanMarkle
— Dr. Simone Kolysh, MPH, PhD (@SimoneKolysh) March 8, 2021
Meghan referred to her miscarriage when speaking about the toll that becoming a royal has taken on her.
When asked how the palace may react to her interview, she said: "I think I'm not going to live my life in fear."
"I think so much of it is said with an understanding of just truth."
"But I think to answer your question, I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. That at a certain point, you're going to go, 'But you guys, someone just tell the truth."
"And if that comes with the risk of losing things, I mean, I've lost...there's a lot that's been lost already," she continued.
"I've lost my father, I lost a baby, I nearly lost my name. But I'm still standing. And my hope for people in the takeaway from this is to know that there's another side to know that life is worth living."
We can't imagine the pain she experienced.