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Meghan Markle Felt ‘Trapped and Claustrophobic’ in England

Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images
Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

From ELLE

It's been half a month since Meghan Markle returned to Canada following her final engagements in England as a working royal family member. Her life has starkly changed for the better, a source told Us Weekly in its issue this week. The Duchess of Sussex truly struggled in England—to the point she allegedly had panic attacks—because of the constant criticism and smears she received from the UK tabloids and some people there.

An insider told the outlet that “Meghan’s thrilled to have escaped the chaos of London. She feels like a new person.”

When Harry and Meghan lived in England at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, Meghan “felt trapped and claustrophobic. She was nervous to step outside her own front door because of all the negative attention she attracted,” the source said, adding that the Duchess had suffered from panic attacks because of it.

Life is much better in Canada, where the two live with their son Archie and enjoy a much larger degree of privacy. "Meghan can go out in yoga pants and not be criticized for not following dress code," an insider told Us. "She feels more relaxed and loves walking around fresh-faced with barely any makeup on."

Meghan and Harry have been using their Instagram these past two weeks to provide information during the coronavirus pandemic. They stressed the importance of mental health in a post four days ago. The couple wrote:

With everything going on, it’s a lot to take in. Many of us may feel confused. Or alone, or anxious or scared...and in isolation, some of us may just feel bored, or that you don’t know what to do with yourself without your normal routine. It’s perfectly normal to be feeling any of these things.

Our emotional well-being is challenged everyday whether we realize it or not, but our lives are usually filled with distractions. Now with constantly changing COVID coverage, we are all adjusting to this new normal and the feelings that come with it.

But here’s the good thing (because right now we need to hear good things, right?): Yes, there is isolation and physical distancing, but there doesn’t have to be loneliness.

There are resources that can help us all through this process, and ways that YOU can become one of those resources.

A palace source told Harper's Bazaar on March 17 that amid the coronavirus, "[the Sussexes are] taking the appropriate measure of heeding government advice. Like everyone, they are taking government advice, and if and when they are specifically made aware of being in contact with someone who has tested positive, they will act accordingly. We are not commenting or guiding further on private medical details."

This morning, the Palace announced Prince Charles tested positive for COVID-19. According to ITV's Chris Ship, Charles has been in contact with Harry since the diagnosis.

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