Royal fans gave a mixed reaction to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry after they opened up about the struggles with dealing with media scrutiny.
The Duke and Duchess were praised by many for their honesty in last night’s ITV documentary, for opening up about dealing with the pressures of living in the royal family.
But others criticised the couple for trying to find ‘sympathy’ that they don’t deserve, branding it a ‘missed opportunity’ for them to win back support.
More than 20,000 MailOnline users reacted to last night’s ITV documentary, and the response was overwhelmingly negative.
And it was a mixed response on social media, with many feeling they should be able to shoulder the scrutiny with all the financial support and privilege that they receive.
The searingly honest interviews come following months of controversy involving Meghan and Harry, who came under fire for their privacy demands over Archie’s christening, their use of private jets, and Meghan’s Wimbledon appearance when she banned fans from taking photos.
And just two weeks ago the couple waged war on the media, announcing they were suing the Mail on Sunday over its publication of Meghan’s estranged father’s letters, and began legal action against the Sun and now defunct News of the World over phone hacking allegations.
One reader wrote on MailOnline: ‘Meg, if you had shown the slightest bit of respect or humility when taking on this role in a centuries old institution, if you had come in quietly, taken any time to learn about the culture (even the value of stiff upper lip) the tradition of Royalty and the place it holds in the fabric of UK society; instead of coming in like you were starring in your own Hallmark princess movie, just maybe things would have gone differently. A sad, wasted opportunity for both of them.
Another added: You’re right Meghan, we do need to thrive and not just survive, so how will you help the millions of us who are merely surviving?
Twitter users flocked to praise both Harry and Meghan after their searingly honest interviews
Prince Harry opened up about his struggles after his mother’s death and mental health
‘Oh wait, you’re just talking about you.’
A third added: ‘This tour was supposed to be work. No stiff upper lip required, just politeness towards the receiving country. Why talk about themselves in a documentary if they do not want that type of publicity. Such stupidity.
‘We would all like to thrive dear. Problem is most of us taxpayers have humdrum lives whereby we have to juggle hard work with paying for childcare, rent or mortgage, bills, council tax, few or no holidays abroad and we just get on with it.’
One Twitter user wrote: ‘ I wouldn’t feel too sorry for them. We (as taxpayers) gave them millions recently so they could do some decorating.’
Another added: ‘If only they had a tour of the UK? You know, have a chat to the people/plebs who pay for everything they have. How good that would have been. Oh well.’
More than 20,000 MailOnline users reacted to last night’s ITV documentary, and the response was overwhelmingly negative.
While a third commented: ‘I’ve really gone off Harry and Megan. The more I see from them at the moment, the more they annoy me. They could do with taking a leaf out of Will and Kate’s book.’
But there was some more positive reaction.
One user wrote: ‘Dunno how you can watch this and not feel a slither of sympathy. I couldn’t go through what Meghan’s been subjected to now, never mind throughout pregnancy & whilst becoming a new mom. Absolutely mind blowing.’
Another said: ‘I respect Meghan. She’s not asking you to adore her, to worship at her feet, but you treat justly and fairly. She’s willing to fight for that because surviving is not enough. Her husband is unwilling to be bullied to appease you and your entitlement.’
While a third added: ‘How can you seriously NOT feel for Harry and Megan? How can you say that they live an easy life? Money is not enough to lead a happy life.’
MailOnline readers criticised the couple for trying to find ‘sympathy’ that they don’t deserve, branding it a ‘missed opportunity’ for them to win back support
The documentary saw Prince Harry discuss his struggles with mental health, while admitting his mother’s death still haunted him.
Meghan, meanwhile, opened up about her struggles with the British media and how she was unprepared for the level of scrutiny she has faced since marrying the Prince.
Some fans appeared worried for Prince Harry’s mental health after a candid interview.
One commented: ‘Think it’s clear to see that Harry carries some deep scares from the death of his mum & it’s clear the fear he carries & the overwhelming need to protect his wife but I think he needs help, it’s crippling his wellbeing I think.’
In the documentary, Prince Harry revealed that every click and flash of a camera in the public eye gives him ‘the worst reminder of her life as opposed to the best’.
In the documentary, Harry said that he felt significant pressure being a member of the royal family in the spotlight, and was particularly stressed by the memories of his mother’s relationship with the press.
He was asked: ‘Do you feel at peace in a way yet or is it still a sort of wound that festers?’
To which he replied said: ‘I think probably a wound that festers. I think 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 it takes me straight back, so in that respect it’s the worst reminder of her life as opposed to the best.
‘My mum taught me a certain set of values that I will always try to uphold, despite the role and the job that sometimes that entails.
‘I will always protect my family and now I have a family to protect.
‘So everything that she went through, and what happened to her, is incredibly important every single day, and that is not me being paranoid, that is just me not wanting a repeat of the past.
‘If anybody else knew what I knew, be it a father or be it a husband, be it anyone, you would probably be doing exactly what I am doing as well.
‘Everything that she went through and what happened to her is still incredibly raw every single day. That is not me being paranoid, that is me not wanting a repeat of the past.’
In the documentary, Harry described the way he deals with the pressures of his life as being a matter of ‘constant management’, adding: ‘I thought I was out of the woods and then suddenly it all came back, and this is something that I have to manage.
‘Part of this job, and part of any job, like everybody, is putting on a brave face and turning a cheek to a lot of the stuff, but again, for me and again for my wife, of course there is a lot of stuff that hurts, especially when the majority of it is untrue.
‘But all we need to do is focus on being real, and focus on being the people that we are, and standing up for what we believe in.
‘I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mum.’