Since her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been in the public eye.
There is significant interest in her personal life, with paparazzi closely monitoring her activities. Following their wedding, when she and Prince Harry stepped back from royal responsibilities and relocated to the United States, Meghan faced severe criticism, as many in Britain accused her of alienating the prince from his family. Recently,
Meghan shared the emotional turmoil she and Prince Harry experienced after she suffered a miscarriage. After the birth of their son Archie,
they were anticipating another child, which ultimately did not come to fruition. Meghan’s poignant essay on the grief of miscarriage, published in The New York Times under the title The Losses We Share, resonated with many.
‘Losing a child entails enduring an almost unbearable sorrow, a reality faced by many yet seldom discussed,’ the 39-year-old Duchess articulated. ‘I experienced a sudden cramp and collapsed to the floor with him in my arms, singing a lullaby to soothe us both, the joyful melody contrasting sharply with my instinct that something was amiss.’
Meghan recounted her miscarriage, stating, ‘As I held my firstborn, I realized I was losing my second. Hours later, I found myself in a hospital bed, grasping my husband’s hand. I felt the coolness of his palm and kissed his knuckles, dampened by our shared tears.
Gazing at the stark white walls, my vision blurred as I contemplated our healing process.’ Despite the anguish she has endured, Meghan has managed to maintain a brave facade, a burden often faced by public figures. ‘In the midst of our grief, my husband and I learned that in a gathering of 100 women, 10 to 20 have likely experienced a miscarriage.
Yet, despite the widespread nature of this sorrow, discussions about it remain taboo, fraught with (unjustified) shame, perpetuating a cycle of isolated mourning,’ the former actress expressed.Meghan advocates for women experiencing similar grief to openly discuss their pain rather than feeling ashamed.
The loss of an unborn child is a common tragedy, yet many choose to endure this sorrow in silence, refraining from confiding in their loved ones. Given that William and Kate have three children, there is speculation about whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will eventually have a third child.
The couple has expressed their thoughts on the possibility of expanding their family, and their stance is resolute. When Archie was one year old, Harry shared with Vogue Magazine his belief that there should be a limit on family size. He stated,
‘I think, oddly enough, due to the people I’ve encountered and the fortunate places I’ve visited, I have developed a connection and appreciation for nature.
My perspective has undoubtedly changed. However, I have always aimed to ensure that, even before having children, I hoped to have a family…’ The interviewer, Dr. Jane Goodall, humorously responded, ‘Not too many!’ Harry elaborated,
‘Two, at most! I have always believed that this world is borrowed. Surely, given our intelligence and evolution, we should strive to leave a better legacy for future generations.’ In a conversation with Oprah, Meghan expressed her gratitude for having any child, stating,
‘[I’m] just grateful to have any child. One or two would have been wonderful, but to have a boy and then a girl, what more could one desire? Now we have our family, consisting of the four of us and our two dogs,’ Meghan shared with Oprah. Harry confirmed that they were ‘done’ with two children, to which Meghan affirmed, ‘Two is it.’
