Meghan Markle today told Australian fans that she was ‘bullied and attacked’ online for a decade and became ‘the most trolled person in the entire world’.
Her comments came shortly after her protective husband looked annoyed when Meghan’s path was blocked when he was asked for a selfie at an event honouring Aboriginal culture.
On day three of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s Australian tour, the couple spoke to students in Melbourne about the dangers of social media and its impact on mental health, urging them to be ‘strong’.
‘And I can speak to that really personally, which is why I like to listen, because it rings true for me in a very real way,’ Meghan said.
‘For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world.’ The duchess added: ‘I’m still here’.
Meghan made the comments during a discussion with young people associated with Australian mental health organisation Batyr at Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology on Thursday.
During the same group discussion, Harry said Australia’s ban on under-16s using social media was ‘epic’ from a ‘responsibility and leadership standpoint’.
It was the couple’s last day in Australia’s second city before they fly to Sydney and It came as all Meghan’s outfits from her tour continue to be uploaded to the OneOff website – described as the ‘Spotify of fashion’ – where Meghan will take a percentage of any sales.
Earlier in the day the couple Meghan was spotted wearing a ‘Mama’ t-shirt designed by her best friend Kelly McKee Zajfen while on the Scar Tree Walk in Melbourne with Harry.
The $40 white tee with a red heart is now for sale on Meghan’s OneOff page along with the $169 blue jeans, $599 trench and $298 trainers she wore with it at the event honouring Australia’s aboriginal culture.
The dress, tights and jewellery she later wore to the university was also immediately available on OneOff to fans who want her ‘look’, in return for around $1,000.
Meghan Markle meets students Batyr, a mental health engagement programme, at Swinburne University of Technology, where she said she was the most ‘trolled person in the entire world’
Prince Harry looked cheesed off when a reporter asked for a selfie as they leave the Scar Tree Walk in Melbourne, getting in Meghan’s way
Earlier in the day Meghan’s protective husband looked annoyed when he was cornered by a television reporter for an awkward selfie.
The Duke of Sussex appeared to prod Paul Dowsley out of Meghan’s path when he asked for a picture before later brushing off the incident and telling the Channel 7 reporter they were ‘still friends’.
Speaking in a classroom at Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology, Meghan said social media companies were ‘not incentivised to stop’.
She said: ‘And when I think of all of you and what you’re experiencing, I think so much of that is having to realise that you know that industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks – that’s not going to change.
‘So you have to be stronger than that.’
Harry then backed Australia’s ban on under-16s using social media was ‘epic’.
The Duke of Sussex told the young people gathered that social media had ‘led to so much loneliness for so many people’.
Wearing a blue shirt and jeans, the Duke said: ‘Australia took the lead.
‘Your government was the first country in the world to bring about a ban.
‘Now we can sit here and debate the pros and cons of a ban – I’m not here to judge that.
‘All I will say is from a responsibility and leadership standpoint – epic.
He added: ‘Because so many countries have now followed suit, but it should have never got to a ban.’
Discussing the benefits of therapy with them, Harry said: ‘I waited until I was literally in the fetal position, much older, lying on the kitchen floor. Until I was like, ok maybe this therapy thing – maybe I should try it.’
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, depart Swinburne University after a visit to the ‘batyr’
The Duchess of Sussex talks to young advocates during a visit to Batyr and described her own experiences
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, poses for a selfie photo at the Scar Tree Walk in Melbourne earlier in the day
The couple stopped for selfies on the famous Scar Tree Walk
The couple were happy to pose with members of the public in Melbourne
But Harry looked less happy when an Australian reporter asked for one
The duke and duchess have long campaigned to raise awareness about the harms of social media.
Harry said: ‘It should have never, ever got to a ban. And now that the ban is in place, now what follows?
‘Because the companies themselves have to be accountable, and there’s no way that young people should be punished by being banned from something that should be safe to use, no matter what.’
The duke also discussed regional differences in mental health support with the young people, telling them: ‘I’m not a city person, my mental health could not stand living in a city – no way.’
Batyr is a preventative youth mental health organisation, which delivers peer-to-peer programmes in schools, universities and workplaces and ‘uses lived experience storytelling to spark conversations around mental health’.
It is hosting a two-day workshop in Melbourne to address the challenges faced by rural and remote young people, ‘being left behind by a crisis-driven mental health system’.
Batyr was founded in 2011 by Sebastian Robertson, who decided to share his experience of mental ill-health to ‘normalise conversations and provide hope to young people going through tough times’.
The organisation, named after an elephant in a Kazakhstan zoo which was claimed to be able to use more than 20 human phrases, works to address a ‘youth mental health crisis in Australia’.
Meghan Markle is now making money out of fans buying her clothes after putting details of her wardrobe online following a deal with an AI-powered fashion website.
The Duchess of Sussex has become a participant and investor in OneOff so she can promote the outfits she has worn during her tour of Australia.
At Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, Meghan wore a $1,250 ‘Priscilla’ dress from local designer Karen Gee, with $780 ‘Puffy Hearts’ stud earrings by Real Fine Studio and $120 ‘Iridescent’ Christian Dior leather pumps.
Later at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum, she had a $1,000 St Agni suede ‘Utility Cocoon Bomber’ jacket, an $890 suede ‘Column skirt’ by the same brand; a $220 ‘Annie’ top by PJ Femme and ‘Purist’ 105mm pointed-toe pumps by Aquazzura which are sold out in the US but cost £479 ($904) in the UK.
OneOff, an American firm based in Los Angeles, also features photos of Meghan from previous events and at her home with options to buy the clothing she is wearing.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex pose for a photo during a Scar Tree Walk as the honoured Aboriginal culture
The Duke of Sussex then went to deliver the keynote speech at the InterEdge Summit, at Centrepiece in Melbourne Park, Victoria on day three of the royal trip
Today the Duke, 41, looked miffed was cornered by a television reporter for an awkward selfie.
But after a brief walk through Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens, Harry was ambushed by Channel 7 reporter Paul Dowsley, who excitedly tried to snap a photo.
The reporter told the Daily Mail that the interactions with the Prince were all good-humoured, and that the royal had even complimented him on his flowered tie.
‘I suppose it’s a break in protocol to ask for a selfie with a royal but he told me that I’m always so well-dressed,’ he said.
Meghan Markle will be guest-starring on the new season of MasterChef Australia and fans of the beloved series are not happy.
Channel 10 took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to make the announcement, alongside an image of the Duchess of Sussex smiling proudly alongside judges Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin.
‘We’re welcoming someone SUPER special into the MasterChef Kitchen,’ the caption began.
‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, makes a special guest appearance this season as she returns to Australia for the first time since 2018,’ it continued.
MasterChef Australia also shared footage of the moment Poh introduces Megan to this year’s cast.
