MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have revealed they’re afraid for their children to go online.
The couple were in Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday for the first time since their “car chase” earlier this year.
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While sitting on a panel they claimed children have been treated like “digital experiments” during the rise of social media.
It was the first time the pair set foot in NYC since they were allegedly involved in a two-hour chase with paparazzi in May.
Harry claimed at the time it was “near-catastrophic”, an account that was later dismissed as an “exaggeration”.
Protection experts also blamed the couple’s private security team for causing unnecessary drama.
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MENTAL HEALTH
The parents-of-two last night hosted their first in-person event for their charity, Archewell Foundation, in support of World Mental Health Day.
Meghan, 42, and Harry, 39, arrived at the event in a convoy of seven blacked-out cars.
A marked NYPD escort also accompanied their fleet to the day event at Hudson Yards.
Meghan stepped out in a floor-length white dress while Harry donned a navy suit.
The couple were in high spirits as they greeted guests and organisers.
Taking his seat on stage, Harry said: “I can’t start without thanking all of the parents – the mother and fathers that have been here today for being with us, physically here today, but also being on this journey for the last year, creating this community of shared experience.
“We know it’s not easy for you guys to be here so thank you very much.”
As they got onto the topic of the “online world” Harry revealed how he felt children were being used as “digital experiments”.
He added: “My kids are too young to have experienced the online world yet and I hope that they never have to experience it as it exists now – no kid should have to.
“My two little ones are still of the age of innocence – sometimes I feel I can keep them away from the online harms that they could face in the future forever but I am learning to know better.
“As parents, my wife and I are concerned about the next generation growing up in a world where they are treated as digital experiments.”
Meghan told of being reduced to tears by some of the stories parents shared with her.
She said: “A year ago when we met some of the families, not all of them – it was impossible to not be in tears as I’m sure so many of you have been today hearing these stories.
“You can hear these stories again and again and again and it’s still going to have the same emotional impact because it’s just that devastating.”
As parents, my wife and I are concerned about the next generation growing up in a world where they are treated as digital experiments
Prince Harry
She also described her fears for her own children, growing up in a social media-dominated age.
She added: “As parents, though our kids are really young, they’re two and a half and four and a half – but social media is not going away.
“I think by design, there was an entry point that was supposed to be positive in creating community and something has devolved, and there’s no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.”
Ahead of the mental health summit they visited the Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, New York.
Harry told students: “Everyone’s got their own story, reason for being here – your life is still going to be filled with complications and challenges.
“And if one of you starts to go quiet, doesn’t show up, you need to find out why.
“And remember to have fun – it has to be fun.”
EVERYONE SUFFERS
Their New York events came after Kate and William, both 41, were in Birmingham, West Midlands, on Tuesday speaking with young people about how “everyone” suffers with mental health.
In an attempt to break the taboo around the issue and show their support, the royals took part in workshops and delivered speeches.
The Princess of Wales donned a black two-piece suit paired with a yellow tailored blazer.
Wearing the colour yellow is today a symbol to show “young people that they are not alone” – with fans noticing Kate’s touching decision.
And to match her heartwarming choice, Kate also wore a pair of gold earrings that were gifted to her by a mother who lost her daughter to suicide.
In 2017, Kate and William launched the Heads Together campaign alongside Prince Harry.
The trio had the aim of breaking the stigma of mental health conditions and hoped more people would speak out about their struggles.
Last May, police sources disputed Harry and Meghan’s claims of a “relentless” two-hour high-speed pursuit.
Cabbie Sukhcharn Singh, who picked up the Sussexes and Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland, said they “obviously didn’t grow up in New York”.
He added: “I think that’s all, you know, exaggerated. I don’t think I’d call it a chase.”
A photographer who witnessed the incident said the couple’s security team pulled dangerous manoeuvres and blocked streets trying to evade paparazzi.
The snapper, who asked not to be named, said: “They were heading east on 57th Street and came to a stop at a red light at 8th Avenue.
“It’s two lanes of traffic in each direction and they pulled out on to the opposite side of the road into oncoming traffic. But they got stuck in the middle of the road. It caused absolute chaos.”
Another photographer told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Their driver was making it a catastrophic experience.”
A high-ranking NYPD insider said the chase “definitely wasn’t two hours”, adding its escort had around 20 minutes of interaction with Meghan and Harry’s convoy.
The couple had been bundled into an SUV at 10pm after an awards ceremony at Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Ballroom on May 16.
As their security team circled the streets, they were followed by around six vehicles, as well as photographers on motorcycles.
It was claimed one vehicle mounted a kerb and two cops reported having a “near miss”.
The NYPD escort led the royal couple to a police station where they waited for 15 minutes before hailing Mr Singh’s taxi.
When that got blocked by a bin lorry, it headed back to the station.
He said they paid the $17 fare and left a $50 tip.
Police blocked traffic before the couple set off with no paparazzi in tow, arriving at a friend’s on the Upper East Side around midnight.
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
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