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Kate Middleton has called for greater support for struggling mothers, highlighting that they should feel free to voice their concerns "without fear of judgment" and access care needed to recover, in a speech that draws strong parallels to the emotional strain Meghan Markle described during her first pregnancy as a member of the royal family.
Kate's speech was made to mark Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week in the U.K, in conjunction with the announcement that she has become a patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
In the video speech, Kate, who has been a strong mental health advocate for many years and also a champion of early years care and development, said:
"The past couple of years have reminded us just how much we need each other and how vital our relationships are to our long-term health and happiness.
"This starts in the very earliest years of our lives, when we need close and continuous care from the people around us to nurture our development and ensure that we get the right start in life.
"But we all know that pregnancy, childbirth and the first months and years of a child's life can be hugely demanding. Parents often feel lonely and overwhelmed by these early years. Around 20 percent of women in the UK are reported to experience perinatal mental illness.
"Sadly, we also know that many more are suffering in silence. No one is immune to experiencing anxiety and depression during this time. It is crucial, therefore, that all those who might be struggling are given the right support at the right time, so that they're able to share these feelings without fear of judgment and can access the information, care and support they need to recover."
The struggles referenced by Kate in her speech evoke the experiences recounted by Meghan in her landmark 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
During her sit-down discussion with Winfrey, she disclosed that, during her time as a full-time working member of the royal family, her mental health suffered to such an extreme degree during her pregnancy with her first child Archie, that she experienced suicidal thoughts.
"I was ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry because of how much loss he suffered," the duchess told Winfrey. "But I knew that if I didn't say it I would do it because I just didn't want to be alive anymore."
Meghan also claimed that palace aides prevented her from seeking medical mental health intervention, saying: "I went to one of the most senior people to get help...I was told I couldn't because it wouldn't be good for the institution."
Harry shared further details of Meghan's mental anguish and how desperate the situation had become in his 2021 docuseries co-created with Winfrey, The Me You Can't See.
In an interview with the host, Harry recounted an evening in January 2019 at a charity gala attended by himself and Meghan:
"People have seen the photograph of us squeezing each other's hands as we walked into the Royal Albert Hall in London for a charity event. She was six months pregnant at the time," he said.
"What perhaps people don't understand is that earlier that evening Meghan decided to share with me the suicidal thoughts and the practicalities of how she was going to end her life.
"The scariest thing for her was her clarity of thought—she hadn't lost it. She wasn't crazy. She wasn't self-medicating, be it through pills or through alcohol, she was absolutely sober.
"She was completely sane. Yet in the quiet at night these thoughts woke her up."
Both Meghan and Kate have become vocal advocates for mental health awareness and development and in 2021 Harry himself joined the mental fitness coaching service BetterUp as chief impact officer.
Kate's appointment as patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance has been welcomed by the organization's chair, Luciana Berger. "The Maternal Mental Health Alliance is honored and delighted that The Duchess of Cambridge has recognized and chosen to support our work by becoming our Royal Patron," Berger said in a statement.
"The Duchess' longstanding dedication to the Early Years and keen interest in mental health marry beautifully with the Alliance's mission to ensure every mum, baby and family affected by perinatal mental health problems can access the right care and support necessary," Berger continued. "We look forward to working with The Duchess to make this goal a reality for all."
If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours every day.
About the writer
James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family ... Read more