Prince Harry Discusses Online Trolling of Meghan Markle

Prince Harry spoke candidly about the online harassment his wife, Meghan Markle, experienced during an unexpected appearance at the 2025 Nexus Global Summit in New York.

“One reason the digital world matters so much to us is that in 2018 my wife was the most trolled person in the world,” he noted while discussing the need to address social isolation online for a “better future after 2025.” It’s a topic that hits close to home for him.

Reflecting on this, he mentioned, “I had a life experience.” It seems, he feels strongly about the implications of online interactions.

Harry emphasized that both he and Markle, who is 43, find it crucial to concentrate on the digital landscape. He shared experiences of meeting parents who had lost children to suicide, often linked to social media pressures. “That was when it really made sense to us,” he explained further.

As the author of “Spare,” he stressed that a decrease in compassion for others “makes life more difficult,” an insight that feels increasingly relevant today.

Markle began facing intense public scrutiny shortly after their November 2017 engagement and their marriage in May 2018. In their interviews, especially with Oprah Winfrey, she opened up about contemplating suicide due to the negative coverage. “I didn’t want to live anymore,” she said, admitting that she felt trapped without any apparent solution.

Harry pointed out how societal shifts can lead to a “reduction in compassion.” It makes one wonder about the overall impact of digital interactions on mental health.

Both Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped away from royal duties in 2020, following a tumultuous period with family members. They now reside in Montecito, California, raising their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

In various interviews, Markle has stated that she never truly addressed the extent of bullying she faced. In a conversation with “CBS Sunday Morning,” she mentioned that she hadn’t even “scraped the surface.” Later, she was quoted describing herself as “one of the world’s most bullied people,” a sentiment echoed by mental health advocate Larissa May in Vanity Fair.

Yet, some sources have suggested she downplayed her experience of online bullying in May, rather than claiming the title of “most bullied person in the world.” It’s a complicated issue, one that reflects the tumultuous nature of public life today.