The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has revealed she endured a decade of relentless online bullying, describing herself as "the most trolled person in the entire world." The emotional disclosure came during a mental health workshop with students in Melbourne, where she urged young people to find strength in the face of social media cruelty.
A Decade of Digital Abuse
Speaking at Swinburne University of Technology on Thursday, Meghan told students associated with youth mental health organisation Batyr: "For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world." The Duchess added with resilience: "I'm still here."
During the same discussion, Prince Harry expressed strong support for Australia's pioneering ban on social media use for children under 16, calling the policy "epic" from a leadership perspective. The Duke highlighted how social platforms have "led to so much loneliness for so many people" and shared his personal journey to therapy.
Protective Husband Intervenes
Earlier in the day, Prince Harry displayed visible irritation when Channel 7 reporter Paul Dowsley approached for a selfie during the couple's visit to Melbourne's Fitzroy Gardens. Witnesses reported the Duke appeared to guide the journalist away from Meghan's path, though he later smoothed over the incident by complimenting Dowsley's floral tie and assuring him they remained "still friends."
The royal couple's Australian tour has seen Meghan leverage her fashion choices commercially through a partnership with AI-powered website OneOff, described as the 'Spotify of fashion.' Details of her outfits—including a $1,250 Karen Gee dress worn at Royal Children's Hospital and a $1,000 St Agni jacket—are uploaded to the platform, with the Duchess receiving a percentage of any sales.
Social Media Companies Criticised
Meghan delivered pointed criticism of social media companies during the university discussion, stating: "That billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks—that's not going to change. So you have to be stronger than that." She emphasised that platforms lack incentive to address online abuse effectively.
Prince Harry elaborated on Australia's social media restrictions, noting: "Your government was the first country in the world to bring about a ban. Now we can sit here and debate the pros and cons—I'm not here to judge that. All I will say is from a responsibility and leadership standpoint—epic."
Mental Health Advocacy Continues
The Duke also discussed regional differences in mental health support, revealing: "I'm not a city person, my mental health could not stand living in a city—no way." The workshop with Batyr focused on challenges faced by rural and remote youth, whom organisers say are "being left behind by a crisis-driven mental health system."
Founded in 2011 by Sebastian Robertson, Batyr uses lived experience storytelling to normalise mental health conversations. The organisation—named after a reportedly talkative elephant in Kazakhstan—aims to address Australia's youth mental health crisis through peer-to-peer programmes.
Commercial Ventures and Television Appearance
Beyond her advocacy work, Meghan continues to expand her commercial portfolio. Her partnership with OneOff allows fans to purchase replicas of outfits she wears during the Australian tour, with the platform featuring photos from current and previous events.
Additionally, Channel 10 announced the Duchess will make a special guest appearance on the new season of MasterChef Australia, marking her first return to the country since 2018. The announcement received mixed reactions from fans of the popular cooking competition.
The Melbourne events represent another chapter in the Sussexes' ongoing campaign against social media harms, blending personal testimony with policy discussion while navigating the complexities of their public and commercial roles.
