Buckling Under Pressure! Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Plan Six Week Break From Royal Duties
Oct. 21 2019, Updated 2:47 a.m. ET
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will reportedly take a six week break from their royal duties that will start next month.
According to the Sunday Times, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will use their days off to spend some "family time" with their loved ones.
In November, they intend on taking their son Baby Archie to Los Angeles where they will celebrate Thanksgiving with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
The following month, in keeping with tradition, their Christmas holiday will be spent with the Queen and the royal family in Norfolk at Sandringham.
The Sussexes' planned vacation should come as a welcome relief as life in the limelight appears to have taken a toll on the couple.
In the News Review section of the Sunday Times, ITV broadcaster Tom Bradby, who followed the pair for his new documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, shared a few of the observations he made about the royal lovebirds.
Bradby, who previously worked with Harry, 35, on a film about the Prince's philanthropic work in Africa, got close access to him and his former actress wife, 38.
He said his initial belief that they were "bruised, even a little defensive" ahead of their tour "wasn't even the half of it."
Archie's parents, he revealed, "came across as more vulnerable and bruised than the spoilt, petulant, arrogant and entitled caricatures sometimes tied to the public whipping post."
Bradby shared that he "couldn't quite shake a sense of sadness, too, at the over powerful impression that this young family, happy in themselves, is struggling to adapt" to a life that makes Meghan feel like she is "existing, not living."
Ultimately, after his time with the Sussexes, he learned that the couple's "difficulties splits and tensions within the wider royal family" were not "exaggerated or untrue."
His takeaway: Meghan and Harry's situation is "another human story gradually emerged, of a couple who clearly feel under the most extreme pressure and seem, at times, to be buckling under pressure."
As readers know, the Duchess, who has been hit with diva rumors, recently opened up to Brady about her experience with media scrutiny as a mother and newlywed in the royal family.
"Any woman, especially when you're pregnant, you're really vulnerable," she said. "And then when you have a newborn, you know. And especially as a woman it's a lot. So, you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed."
She continued, "But it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes," then thanked the broadcaster for asking her how she was "because not many people have asked if I'm okay."
When Bradby asked if she could confirm she was "not really ok" and if it really "has been a struggle," she responded with a simple "Yes."
The media has also been difficult for Harry to adjust to, as it prompts memories of his late mother, Princess Diana and her intense time in the spotlight.
It’s “a wound that festers”…”every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash,” the Prince explained.
With the pressures of spotlight, Harry and Meghan might be seeking relief in Africa.
RadarOnline.com previously reported the couple could move to the continent after Archie's birth to work in a two to three year role that would involve the Commonwealth, charity work and promoting Britain.
Although Meghan was initially against the idea, the Sunday Mirror is revealing they are planning to build a home in the very place they fell in love: Botswana.
"They would love to build a traditional bush lodge, constructed by locals, bringing work and trade to the land," a source told the publication.
"There has also been talk of a local school being built as well. Most importantly they want somewhere where they have complete privacy and will not be disturbed."
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Harry reportedly also loved the idea of his son spending time in the country "as it has been such a healing and beautiful place for him."
Though the Duke of Sussex has said Africa "is where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world," he is aware of the obstacles that stand his way.
In the documentary, he acknowledges the "judgement" that might follow a move to Africa.
“With all the problems that are going on there, I just don’t see how we would be able to,” Harry said, adding: “I think it would be a very hard place to live when you know what’s going on — but, then again, you’re sort of slightly disconnected from it.”
He also revealed that his work in Africa will continue whether or not his family moves to the continent.
“The rest of our lives, especially our life’s work, will be predominantly focused on Africa, on conservation . . . there’s a lot of things to be done. There’s a lot of problems here, but there’s huge potential for solutions,” Harry told Bradby.
Harry & Meghan: An African Journey will air on Wednesday, October 23, at 10:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
