"Not many people have asked if I'm ok ... it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes."

Meghan reveals to ITV's @tombradby [1] the intense media spotlight has left her struggling to cope while becoming a mum #HarryAndMeghan [2] https://t.co/Uy21iE6ozJ [3] pic.twitter.com/kZqhZV66OL [4]

— ITV News (@itvnews) October 18, 2019 [5]

Ahead of the upcoming documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, a new video has been released that shows Meghan Markle speaking for the first time about the negative press coverage that surrounded her pregnancy and the birth of her son whom she shares with Prince Harry, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor [6]. The Duchess of Sussex appears to be fighting back tears as she speaks on cameras to ITV's Tom Bradby during the royal tour of Southern Africa [7]. "Not many people have asked if I'm OK," Meghan admits as she explains how she struggled to deal with the excessive press scrutiny on top of all the emotional turmoil that comes with becoming a parent for the first time. "Any woman, especially when they're pregnant, you're really vulnerable and so that was made really challenging. And then when you have a newborn, you know?" The duchess explains, smiling through her obvious discomfort.

"So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom, or trying be a newlywed . . . it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes," she continues. Though she chooses her words carefully, when pushed further by Brady to admit she's "not really OK" she confirms it, and you only have to look at her pained face to see how much she's struggling to get through the interview.

The clip appears to have been filmed on the last day of the royal tour, shortly after Prince Harry released a damning statement against the UK tabloid press [8], which led to the news that the Duke and Duchess will be suing two British media organisations [9] over alleged phone hacking. On that same day, the duchess gave an emotional, heartfelt speech about respect [10], which feels even more powerful when you realise just what she was dealing with behind the scenes.

Harry and Meghan: An African Journey airs on ITV on Sunday Oct. 20 at 9 p.m.