Meghan Markle Reveals She Had a Miscarriage with Second Child

The public did not know until now that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, suffered a miscarriage in July 2020. She revealed on Wednesday, November 25 a day before Thanksgiving that she suffered a miscarriage with "unbearable grief."

Personal and Painful Details

Meghan described in personal and painful details what happened. The wife of Prince Harry describes a normal morning feeding her dogs, taking her vitamins and changing a diaper on their 18-month-old son Archie when she felt a sharp cramp and she realized the worse.

Meghan said, "I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right. I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second."

The Duchess of Sussex added, "Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband's hand. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we'd heal."

Why Meghan Reveals Personal News Now

Meghan took the opportunity to share her story in an opinion article, The Losses We Share published in The New York Times. It was No. 1 on the newspaper's online top 20 "Most Popular" stories hours after it was published. The 39-year-old duchess said she had decided finally to disclose these intimate details as a way of helping her own healing process and in doing so it will potentially help other women who have suffered a miscarriage alone and in private.

Meghan wrote that conversations concerning miscarriages remain taboo combined with shame and a continuing cycle of solitary mourning. In her article, the Duchess of Sussex said that people often suffer personal tragedies in silence.

Meghan's opinion article wasn't only about her own tragic loss. She used her miscarriage as just one type of loss that should be shared. She mentioned the loss of loved ones to the coronavirus, the many cases of those who suffered from police violence this year, toxic media coverage, racist harassment, bullying, and those who are suffering from anxiety and uncertainty over the state of the nation in reference to the recent presidential election.

"Are You OK?"

Meghan restated what she said in a September 2019 television interview when she was living in England. She said no one bothered to ask her, "Are you OK?" during months of British tabloid mocking and racist remarks on social media. She said too often people don't ask others, "Are you OK?" She said those three little words work wonders for a person who is hurting.

The Duchess of Sussex suggested that during this Thanksgiving holiday, it would mean a lot for individuals and families to commit to showing empathy and checking in on others and asking them, "Are you OK?"

The Duke and Duchess' Journey This Year

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had a tumultuous year. She and Harry, 36, announced at the beginning of the year that they would step down as senior members of the British royal family. That meant they would no longer work and represent the Queen of England.

The couple first moved to Canada before they settled in Southern California. The whole time they had to deal with the media intruding upon their privacy. Since being in California for such a short time, they have already sued tabloid media over several alleged violations of their privacy. One lawsuit was filed in late July to stop the circulation of a photo of young Archie.

No Comment From Buckingham Palace

Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family were not shocked when Meghan's article was published because Prince Harry reportedly discussed his wife's miscarriage with his family, and the royals were aware of her essay before it appeared in print.

A spokeswoman for the royal family at Buckingham Palace told NBC News on Wednesday that the Duchess of Sussex's miscarriage was a private, personal matter and declined to make any comment at all.

So far, Prince Harry's uncle and the late Princess Diana's brother Earl Charles Spencer is the only relative who has offered public condolences to Prince Harry and Meghan about their personal tragedy.

According to USA Today, Meghan has been praised for sharing her personal pain and grief. Many women on social media have thanked the duchess for being transparent about the miscarriage she and Prince Harry are still healing from.