Meghan Markle Opens Up About Decade of Online Abuse During Australia Visit
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made headlines during their visit to Melbourne, Australia, with the Duchess of Sussex revealing deeply personal struggles with online harassment while the Duke commended the country's groundbreaking social media policies.
Australia's Social Media Ban Earns Royal Praise
Speaking during a youth discussion hosted by mental health organization Batyr in Melbourne on Thursday, Prince Harry called Australia's move to ban social media for children under 16 "epic," highlighting it as a strong example of leadership. According to Reuters, the Duke of Sussex made it clear he wasn't there to debate the policy itself but respected the intent behind it.
"Now we can sit here and debate the pros and cons of a ban — I'm not here to judge that. All I will say is from a responsibility and leadership standpoint — epic," Harry told the audience.
Australia became the first country in the world to pass such legislation in December 2025, restricting access to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for those under 16. The policy is now being watched and potentially replicated globally, with Canada's federal Liberals recently backing a non-binding resolution to set 16 as the minimum age for social media use.
Meghan's Personal Battle with Online Harassment
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle shared her own painful experiences with the same audience, revealing she has endured intense online abuse for years. "Every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world," she confessed.
The former actress delivered a pointed message about the nature of social media platforms, describing them as "a billion dollar industry that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks," according to Agence France-Presse. She emphasized that this dynamic isn't likely to change, telling young people, "So you have to be stronger than that."
Harry Reflects on Personal Loss and Royal Responsibility
At a separate leadership event, Prince Harry shared emotional reflections about the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, when he was just 12 years old. He described feeling "lost, betrayed, or completely powerless" during that period, and even resentful of his royal role.
"It killed my mum and I was very much against it, and I stuck my head in the sand for years and years," he said, per AFP.
Over time, Harry's perspective shifted as he began considering how he could use his position and resources to make a difference — and what his mother would have wanted. This realization, he explained, fundamentally changed his approach to his public role and responsibilities.
First Australian Visit Since Royal Exit
The couple's current visit marks their first trip to Australia since 2018, when they were still working royals and famously announced Meghan's first pregnancy upon arriving in Sydney. Two years later, in 2020, they stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States, citing a desire for financial independence and to escape what they described as relentless media intrusion, according to Reuters reports.
During their Melbourne stop, the royal couple participated in the Scar Tree Walk on April 16, 2026, continuing their pattern of blending public engagements with personal advocacy work. Their comments on social media and online harassment come at a time when governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate digital platforms and protect vulnerable users from online harm.
