Meghan Markle breaks down in tears as she reflects on brutal public scrutiny: ‘People don’t even know me’

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has broken down in tears during a rare and emotional interview, opening up about the intense scrutiny and criticism she says she has faced over the past five years.

Appearing on a podcast episode of The Jamie Kern Lima Show, Meghan, 43, became visibly emotional as she reflected on the toll public judgement has taken on her identity, and when speaking about her bond with her two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

“People don’t like me. They don’t know me,” she admitted, her voice cracking with emotion.

“You just want to be liked. You just want to be seen for what your own values are.”

Meghan spoke candidly about the difficulty of holding onto her authenticity in the face of widespread attacks, describing how she often felt “picked apart” by people who had never met her.

Fighting back tears, she explained that behind the polished public image, there was a real and painful struggle — one she says many people never saw.

“But the reality is that the strongest people I know are the ones who have the courage to ask for help when they need it,” she said.

Shifting the conversation to her children, Meghan reflected on the lessons she hopes to instil in them.

“My whole life is about service,” she said.

“And the idea that I could do that as a mum — raising my kids to be kind, to be good — that, to me, is the greatest success.”

Meghan also revealed a touching family ritual: she sends Archie and Lilibet an email every night, creating a time capsule for them to look back on when they are older.

The interview took an even more emotional turn when the host read a letter from Meghan’s children, sent via Prince Harry.

“We love your cooking. We love your pancakes and we love, love, love your hugs. You’re the best mummy and we love you.”

Moved to tears, Meghan wiped her eyes as she listened to the heartfelt words from Prince Harry and her children.

Throughout the conversation, Meghan returned to a core theme: the importance of staying grounded in one’s values amid relentless outside pressure.

“You get to a point where you’re like, ‘OK, what do I actually believe’?” she said.

“Not what I am told to believe, not what people say about me, but what do I actually know about myself?”

The nearly 50 minute conversation offered a rare and intimate glimpse into Meghan’s world, away from royal headlines and media speculation.

While she didn’t directly mention the royal family or her past life in the UK, her reflections on surviving “brutality” and protecting her inner peace resonated clearly.

“In some ways, I feel like I’m just getting started,” she said, smiling through tears.

“There’s so much I still want to do.”