Meghan Markle was warned the UK tabloids would ‘destroy’ her life

Royal speaks of struggling to cope with her new life in interview for ITV documentary

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has had to face an increasingly hostile press since she married into the Royal Family last year. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:43pm, 21 Oct 2019Updated: 1:43pm, 21 Oct 2019

The Duchess of Sussex has revealed she was warned before her marriage to Prince Harry that the British tabloids would “destroy” her life, as she spoke of struggling to cope with the reality of being part of the royal family.

In an interview for the ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, she said the last year had been “hard” and that she had “no idea” of what she would face.

“When I first met my now husband, my friends were really happy because I was so happy. But my British friends said to me: ‘I’m sure he’s great. But you shouldn’t do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life’,” she told the interviewer, Tom Bradby, in the film, broadcast on Sunday.

She said she had “very naively” told her friends: “What are you talking about. That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not in the tabloids.”

She added: “I didn’t get it. So, it’s been complicated.”

Meghan was speaking during the couple’s recent tour of southern Africa, during which it was announced she was suing The Mail on Sunday over an allegation that it unlawfully published a private letter she sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on their recent South Africa tour. Photo: AP

At the same time Harry issued a ferocious attack on the British tabloids, accusing them of a “ruthless” campaign against Meghan. Harry also issued legal proceedings against the owners of The Sun and The Dail y Mirror over alleged phone hacking.