Meghan Markle has shared a deeply emotional health update following a difficult diagnosis.
The Duchess of Sussex opened up about a serious, potentially life-threatening complication in the debut episode of her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder.
This marks her return to podcasting after her previous series, Archetypes, aired 12 episodes on Spotify before its cancellation.
The new podcast is part of a wave of independent projects for Meghan, who recently announced a “professional split” from Prince Harry.
She also reintroduced her lifestyle brand—formerly American Riviera Orchard—under a new name, As Ever. The relaunch featured a line of nine products, including teas, jams, honey, crepe mix, and edible flower sprinkles, which sold out within an hour.
Meanwhile, her Netflix series With Love, Meghan has been renewed for a second season, despite receiving mixed reactions online.
In the premiere episode of her new podcast, Meghan sat down with Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd for a frank conversation about the challenges of entrepreneurship and motherhood. It was during this episode that Meghan surprised listeners by revealing a personal health struggle.
The duchess said to Herd: “We both had very similar experiences – though we didn’t know each other at the time.”
Markle then spoke of the pressures of being in the limelight while experiencing a health matter.
“The world doesn’t know what’s happening quietly,” she said. “And in the quiet, you’re still trying to show up for people – mostly for your children — but those things are huge medical scares.”
The 43-year-old and Herd have both struggled with postpartum preeclampsia.
It’s a rare condition that occurs when you have high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine soon after childbirth, which the Bumble founder described as ‘life or death.’
Postpartum preeclampsia requires prompt treatment. If left untreated, postpartum preeclampsia can cause seizures and other serious complications, as per the Mayo Clinic.
Herd went on to recall Markle’s first appearance after welcoming her firstborn, Archie.
“I’ll never forget the image of you after you delivered Archie, and the whole world was waiting for his debut,” the podcast guest said.
“I was either just becoming or about to become a new mom, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, how is this woman doing this?’
“How is this woman putting on heels and going and debuting a child in this, you know, beautiful outfit in front of the entire world?’ I could barely face a doorbell delivery for takeout food in a robe.”
