MEGHAN MARKLE has revealed she was left feeling suicidal and battling thoughts of self-harm during her time in England as part of the Royal family.
In a highly anticipated interview with chat show host Oprah which aired in the US last night, Meghan Markle described her life as a Royal and the destructive effect it had on her mental health, particularly the rumours-- which she said were vastly untrue-- which appeared about her in the British press.
The groundbreaking interview saw Ms Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, speak openly about what drove them to step back from royal life and make a new life in America with their son Archie.
One of the most shocking moments from the interview saw Ms Markle admit that the pressures from the family and the press led her mental health to disintegrate, and told Oprah that at one point she "didn't want to be alive anymore".
She had been the victim of "character assassination" in the press, and the family-- who she referred to as 'the firm'-- did not support her, and in fact helped "perpetuate falsehoods" against her.
"I was really ashamed to have to say it at the time," she told the chat show host about when she was forced to admit she was suicidal, "and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry especially."
"But I knew that if I didn't say that, I would do it.
Image: CBS"I just didn't want to be alive anymore."
"And that was a very clear and real and frightening and constant thought."
The interview aired a clip of Harry and Meghan appearing at an event in the Royal Albert Hall, which Ms Markle revealed took place just hours after she told her husband that she was feeling suicidal and on the verge of self-harming.
"And I remember, I remember how he just cradled me," she said-- but the pair attended the event anyway as "I can't be left alone, I'm afraid of what I might do".
Ms Markle said she was 'weeping' whenever the lights went down during the show but put a smile back on her face when the lights went up.
The Duchess of Sussex revealed she had asked a senior royal about the possibility of seeking inpatient care but was told this was not possible as "it wouldn't be good for the institution" of the family.
The groundbreaking interview will be broadcast across Ireland tonight on RTÉ 2 at 9.35pm.
