During the latest episode of her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, the Duchess of Sussex admitted that her experience of motherhood as a royal didn’t match the dream she had envisioned. “I’ve always wanted to be a mum,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh gosh, I’m going to give a speech with a baby on my hip.’ I had a whole vision… But it was not the way I envisioned it.”
The reflections sparked fresh commentary from royal watchers, with many saying her words come far too late, especially given the years of public criticism aimed at the monarchy.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that the Royal Family had very different hopes for the Sussexes and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. He believes the ongoing rift, fuelled by what he called “brutal attacks” on the royals, will make it difficult for the children to maintain ties with their heritage.
“The Sussexes claimed the palace establishment worked against them,” he said. “There’s no doubt Meghan and Kate had very different roles and temperaments. But the stresses the Sussexes said they experienced only intensified. And in Spare, Prince Harry personally attacked several influential courtiers”, reported Fox News.
Meghan, who became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Prince Harry in 2018, gave birth to Archie while still a working royal. He even accompanied them on a tour of Africa in 2019, where he was introduced to Archbishop Desmond Tutu. But by 2020, the couple had stepped back from their royal roles and moved to California, citing relentless press intrusion and a lack of support. Lilibet was born a year later in the US.
Since then, Meghan has been selective in sharing glimpses of her children, often opting for photos and videos that don’t reveal their faces. The couple also keep them out of public events where paparazzi might be present.
“When Harry married Meghan, many thought her background in acting and advocacy would make royal life easier,” Fitzwilliams added. “But her wish for privacy, especially around Archie’s birth, soured relations with the press.”
He also criticised what he sees as the couple’s selective approach to privacy, suggesting it’s only added to the public scrutiny.
The royal family has largely stayed silent on Meghan’s latest comments, but polls in the UK continue to show that public opinion has turned cold, with Meghan and Harry consistently ranking near the bottom in favourability.
Meanwhile, Harry has expressed a desire to reconcile with his family. Speaking to the BBC earlier this month after losing a court battle over his security arrangements, he revealed that King Charles has stopped speaking to him. “I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer my father has… He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff.”
He insisted that his family’s safety was knowingly put at risk by decisions made back in 2020, and said that only funerals and court hearings bring him back to the UK now.
Despite everything, Meghan and Harry are raising their children in Montecito, California, far from the spotlight of the Palace, but not far from public interest.