5 Things We Learned From Harry & Meghan: An African Journey
Last night the highly anticipated documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey aired in the United States. Much of the content was already known—the documentary was originally broadcast on ITV in the U.K., and clips were all over social media—but it was the first time an American audience saw it in its entirety.
In it the royal couple opens up—about their family, the pressures of being royals, and the rumors that have plagued them over the past few months. They also show their natural charm, powerful public personas, and unified love as a family of three.
Below, the top five takeaways.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are Struggling Under the Intense Spotlight
The Duchess of Sussex made an emotional confession that the constant media coverage took a toll on her—especially when she was expecting her first child. “Any woman, especially when they’re pregnant—you’re really vulnerable,” she said. “So that was made really challenging. And then when you have a newborn, you know? It’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.” When reporter Tom Bradby asked if it would be fair to call it a struggle, she replied: “Yes.”
She’s not the only one grappling with their level of fame. Harry revealed that the persistent tabloid presence reminds him almost daily of his mother’s death. (Princess Diana died in 1997 after a car crash that involved the paparazzi.)
“I think [of] being part of this family, in this role, in this job every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash,” he said. “It takes me straight back, so in that respect it’s the worst reminder of her life as opposed to the best.” He continued: “Everything that she went through and what happened to her is incredibly raw every single day, and that’s not me being paranoid, that’s just me not wanting a repeat of the past.”
Prince William and Prince Harry Are “on Different Paths”
Earlier this year reports emerged about a feud between William and Harry. In the documentary Harry commented on the matter, simultaneously confirming and downplaying the tension. “Part of this role and part of this job and this family being under the pressure that it’s under, inevitably stuff happens,” he said. “We’re certainly on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him as I know he’ll always be there for me.”
But he continued: “The majority of the stuff is created out of nothing, but as brothers it’s just as I said, you have good days, you have bad days.”
Markle Addressed and Embraced Her Biracial Identity
One of the most powerful moments of the Sussexes southern Africa tour was when the Duchess of Sussex opened up about her African American heritage. “While I’m here as a member of the royal family, I stand here before you as a mother, a wife, a woman, as a woman of color, and as your sister,” she said to a crowd of young girls in Nyanga, Cape Town.
She explained to Bradby why she chose to include that line. “Before I was part of this family, that’s how I identified...just as a woman of color, which has [now] been brought to the forefront in a more prominent way.”
Despite the Drama, They Are a Close Family of Three
If there was any doubt, this documentary proved it: Harry loves being a dad. In the documentary he wipes drool from Archie’s mouth, holds and rocks him, and generally dotes over his newborn son. In one moment Harry has Archie in his arms, while Markle comes over and kisses his head.
And, according to his parents, Archie loves South Africa. “We thought he was happy before! He’s the happiest here. He’s been so happy the past two days.”
Markle also lets her nickname for Harry slip on camera—it’s ”H.”
The Sussexes Are Not Moving to Africa
Harry, Markle, and Archie are not relocating to Africa, despite suggestions in earlier reports. While expressing his love for the continent, he also admitted it wasn’t a feasible choice. “I don’t know where we could live in Africa at the moment,” he said. “We just came from Cape Town, that would be an amazing place to base ourselves, of course it would. But with all the problems that are going on there, I just don’t see how we’d be able to really make as much difference as we’d want to without the issues and the judgment of how we would be with those surroundings.”
Originally Appeared on Vogue
