Royal family 'probably didn’t know' about Meghan's miscarriage

Royal commentators in the UK have discussed whether they believe the royal family was aware of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s tragic news of a miscarriage.

The Duchess of Sussex revealed she suffered a miscarriage in July this year, in a deeply personal article for the New York Times, writing “I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.”

Following Meghan’s article on Wednesday, a Buckingham Palace spokesman told the BBC: “It’s a deeply personal matter we would not comment on.”

Kensington Palace and Clarence House have also not publicly commented on the article.

Sky News royal commentator Alistair Bruce told the news outlet he thought other members of the royal family “probably didn’t know about this happening at all.”

“Today’s announcement is very much in the style that she likes to follow … expressing her own emotions and controlling her own story,” he said.

It is indeed the first time a member of the royal family has shared such deeply personal news so publicly, with the royals very much known for their “mantra never complain, never explain”, according to Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl.

However, Katie said she believed Harry’s family had indeed known about the situation for months and have been supporting the couple behind closed doors.

“They were aware of what had happened,” she told the BBC. “Harry was in constant touch with them over the summer and they knew what they were going through.

“My understanding is that they have been supported by the royal family throughout this episode.”

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Katie added she was not surprised by Meghan being so open about her personal experience, after the couple stepped down as senior members of the royal family.

“We don’t hear them opening up their hearts but if ever I knew a royal that does and wears his heart on his sleeve, it’s Harry and Meghan is clearly cut from the same cloth,” she said.

Meghan explained in the piece that she chose to write about the experience to open up a wider conversation about miscarriage.

She said it wasn’t until the miscarriage that she and Harry learned how common an experience it is – between 10 and 20 per cent of women will suffer pregnancy loss.

“Yet despite the staggering commonality of this pain, the conversation remains taboo, riddled with (unwarranted) shame, and perpetuating a cycle of solitary mourning,” Meghan wrote.

As a result she had been praised for helping to break down the stigma surrounding miscarriage and for encouraging women not to feel they have to suffer in silence.

“Meghan’s essay praises the bravery of parents who share their stories, and those who prefer to grieve privately can still find comfort and connection in reading about others’ experiences,” baby loss charity Tommy’s said.

“Her honesty and openness today send a powerful message to anyone who loses a baby: this may feel incredibly lonely, but you are not alone.”

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