The Sad, Striking Similarities Between Princess Diana and Meghan Markle’s Tell-All Interviews
The recent interview with Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has drawn comparisons to the famous 1995 interview with Princess Diana. Despite the 26-year gap and different circumstances, there are striking similarities between their experiences.
Both women sat down with journalists for high-profile interviews, dubbed “bombshell” by the media. Meghan was in Montecito, California, with her husband Prince Harry, while Diana was alone in her London living room, shortly after Prince Charles admitted to his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
Meghan and Diana faced intense negative press attention and scrutiny, with Meghan also enduring racist social media trolls. Diana had her private conversations published, and the press labeled her as unstable.
While the details and timelines differed, their stories shared common threads: both contended with mental health struggles, overwhelming media scrutiny, and the harsh realities behind the fairy tale narratives surrounding their royal lives.
As the dust settles from Meghan’s interview, the parallels between their experiences have become evident, shedding light on the challenges faced by women in the royal spotlight and the enduring impact of their candid revelations.
The 1995 BBC interview with Princess Diana was a groundbreaking event that shook the foundations of the British monarchy. In an unprecedented move, Diana candidly discussed deeply personal topics, including her struggles with bulimia, depression, and the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles, alluding to his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. This candid revelation, watched by nearly 40% of the UK population, significantly impacted public perception of the royal family.
Fast forward over two decades, and history seemed to repeat itself when Diana’s son, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, gave their own tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, shortly after stepping back from their royal duties. The language used by both women in their respective interviews is strikingly similar, reflecting the shared challenges they faced within the confines of the monarchy.
Both Diana and Meghan expressed a lack of understanding about the realities of royal life, feeling overwhelmed by constant media scrutiny and the pressures of their roles. They spoke of feeling trapped and ashamed, with Diana admitting she didn’t like herself and Meghan revealing her suicidal thoughts. Their references to “people in my environment” and “the institution” highlighted the perceived constraints imposed by the royal establishment.
These interviews not only provided an intimate glimpse into the personal struggles of two high-profile members of the royal family but also shed light on the broader systemic issues and expectations surrounding the monarchy.
Both Meghan Markle and Princess Diana openly discussed their struggles with mental health issues and the lack of support they received from the royal family. Meghan admitted to having suicidal thoughts, stating, “I just didn’t see a solution.” Diana, on the other hand, suffered from postpartum depression and resorted to self-harm, explaining, “You felt misunderstood and just very, very low in yourself.”
They both felt unsupported by the institution, with Diana expressing, “I was the first person ever to be in this family who ever had a depression or was ever openly tearful. And obviously that was daunting, because if you’ve never seen it before, how do you support it?” Meghan claimed that when she sought treatment, she was told it wasn’t a feasible option.
Additionally, both Diana and the Sussexes implied that their respective tours of Australia caused jealousy within the monarchy. Harry told Oprah, “It all changed after the Australia tour. It was the first time the family got to see how incredible she was at the job. And that brought back memories. To see how effortless it was for Meghan to come into the family and be able to connect with people.”
The article delves into the parallels between the experiences of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and Princess Diana, the late Princess of Wales, within the British royal family. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and the time gap between their entries into the monarchy, both women faced intense media scrutiny and public adoration that reportedly caused jealousy and complicated situations.
The piece highlights Diana’s own words about her husband, Prince Charles, feeling jealous of the overwhelming attention she received during their tours, leading to a sense of insecurity. Surprisingly, Meghan Markle, who married into the royal family decades later, seems to have encountered similar challenges, despite societal progress and the presumed evolution of the monarchy.
The article underscores the notion that, regardless of the changes over time, the powerful institution of the monarchy can inflict significant pain on the individuals within it, as evidenced by the shared experiences of these two women from different generations. It raises questions about the enduring challenges faced by those who marry into the royal family, even in modern times.
