'Trapped' Meghan Markle reportedly suffered panic attacks because of negative British press
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Days before the Duke and Duchess are set to officially resign as senior members of the Royal Family, new details have surfaced of Meghan Markle’s struggles living in the public eye.
According to a source reportedly close to the Duchess, Markle would experience panic attacks due to the constant criticism and negative attention she received on a near daily basis from the British press.
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“She was nervous to step outside her own front door because of all the negative attention she attracted,” the unnamed source told Us Weekly, adding that Markle would often feel “trapped” and “claustrophobic.”
The Sussexes decision to move to Canada has reportedly been helpful to the 38-year-old royal, who has a “spring in her step” now that she’s left the U.K. behind.
“Meghan’s thrilled to have escaped the chaos of London. She feels like a new person,” the insider added. “Meghan can go out in yoga pants and not be criticized for not following a dress code. She feels more relaxed and loves walking around fresh-faced with barely any makeup on.”
ALSO SEE: Harry and Meghan left Archie in Canada 'over coronavirus fears'
In a separate exclusive with the Daily Mail, another source said that Markle reportedly told those in her inner circle that her “soul was being crushed” from all the negativity of royal life and that she “wasn’t sleeping well.”
“She also felt like she couldn't be the best mother to Archie if she wasn't being her true, authentic self. Something she felt she couldn't be in the royal family confines,” the source added. 'She said she didn't want Archie picking up on her stress and anxiety. She felt like it was a toxic environment for him because there was too much tension and pent-up frustrations.'
The public first learned of Markle’s struggles in a candid interview with Tom Bradby for their special “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey.”
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Markle told Bradby that the scrutiny was “a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes” and made things particularly difficult during her pregnancy and first months as a new mom.
“I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair,” Markle admitted. “That’s the part that’s really hard to reconcile.”
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