Prince Harry Says He 'Hates Himself' for How He Responded to Meghan Markle's Suicidal Thoughts

Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Meghan Markle's husband Prince Harry and mother Doria Ragland are opening up about the height of the Duchess of Sussex's struggles inside the royal family.

"I remember her telling me that, that she had wanted to take her own life," Ragland said in Episode 4 of the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, released Thursday. "That really broke my heart."

Ragland then related Meghan's mental health problems to her treatment at the hands of the global media.

"I knew, well, I knew that it was bad, to just constantly be picked at by these vultures, just picking away at her spirit that she would actually think of not wanting to be here," she added. "That's not an easy one for a mom to hear. And I can't protect her. H [Harry] can't protect her."

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"I was devastated," added Prince Harry. "I knew that she was struggling. We were both struggling, but I never thought that it would get to that stage."

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Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their interview with Oprah Winfrey

"And the fact that it got to that stage, I felt angry and ashamed," he continued. "I didn't deal with it particularly well. I dealt with it as 'institutional Harry' as opposed to 'husband Harry.' And what took over my feelings was my royal role."

"I'd been trained to worry more about what are people gonna think if we don't go to this event, we're gonna be late," he added. "Looking back on it now, I hate myself for it. What she (Meghan) needed from me was so much more than I was able to give."

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Meghan first revealed her suicidal thoughts during the couple's sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, where she also admitted to thoughts of self-harm.

"I was ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry. But I knew that if I didn't say it — then I would do it," she said about her dark thoughts. "I just didn't want to be alive anymore."

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OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images Doria Ragland and Meghan Markle

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Speaking to Netflix, she repeated a claim made in the Oprah interview about how the palace did not respond when she asked for help.

"I wanted to go somewhere to give help, but I wasn't allowed to," said Meghan. "They were concerned about how that would look for the institution."

"They knew how bad it was," added Harry about the royal family's response. "They thought why couldn't she just deal with it as if to say, 'well, you know, everybody else has dealt with it. Why can't she deal with it?' But this was different. It was really different."

He continued, "But actually if you strip all that away and say, 'OK fine, it was exactly the same.' So do we still believe that she should have just sucked it up like other members of the family? Or does one think that maybe it's about time that we stop?"

If you or someone you know need mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.