Meghan Markle has shared a heartbreaking health revelation in the debut episode of her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder.
The Duchess of Sussex opened up about what she described as a “life-or-death” medical scare, revealing she quietly battled postpartum preeclampsia — a rare but serious condition that develops after childbirth.
The 43-year-old’s new series marks her return to podcasting after Archetypes, her first show with Spotify, ended after just one season. The new venture comes amid a wave of solo projects for Meghan, who recently confirmed a “professional separation” from her husband, Prince Harry.
In recent months, the Duchess has relaunched her lifestyle brand under the name As Ever — formerly American Riviera Orchard — offering products such as teas, fruit preserves, honey, crepe mix, and floral sprinkles, all of which sold out within an hour of launch. She’s also found success with her Netflix series
In the first episode of her new show, Meghan sat down with Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble, to discuss entrepreneurship, motherhood, and the hidden challenges faced by women in the public eye.
During their heartfelt exchange, Markle revealed for the first time that she suffered from the same life-threatening condition as Wolfe Herd.
“We both had very similar experiences — though we didn’t know each other at the time,” Meghan said. “The world doesn’t know what’s happening quietly. And in the quiet, you’re still trying to show up for people — mostly for your children — but those things are huge medical scares.”
Both women experienced postpartum preeclampsia, which causes dangerously high blood pressure and can lead to seizures or other serious complications if untreated. The Mayo Clinic describes the condition as rare but potentially life-threatening, requiring urgent medical care.
During the conversation, Wolfe Herd recalled Meghan’s first public appearance after giving birth to Archie, her now six-year-old son.
“I’ll never forget the image of you after you delivered Archie, and the whole world was waiting for his debut,” Wolfe Herd said. “I was either just becoming or about to become a new mom, and I remember thinking, ‘How is this woman doing this? How is she putting on heels and presenting her baby to the world in front of everyone?’ I could barely face a food delivery in a robe.”
The moment, which captured Meghan standing alongside Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in May 2019, is now remembered in a new light — a public smile masking a private health crisis.
Markle’s openness on Confessions of a Female Founder offered fans a rare glimpse behind her polished public image, reminding listeners that even royals face unseen struggles.
Imagine going on a beautiful holiday with your close friend and your children, only to be sexually assaulted and humiliated. For one woman, this was her unfortunate reality. While on vacation, the British mom was assaulted while parasailing in Tunisia. What was meant to be a relaxing time turned into a nightmare, one that she would never forget.
The British mother, a 52-year-old woman from Southport, had made a booking to go parasailing with her friend while they were on vacation in Tunisia. She thought this would be a great opportunity to get the best views from the sky.
Winds were particularly high on the day, and the women were told they would each need to go up separately with an instructor, instead of their original plan to go up together.
Her friend went first and had a great experience. But when it was her turn to go up, the experience took an unexpected twist.
She reported to The Sun, “I could feel the back of my bikini bottoms being pulled, and he was pulling the strap. He must have been tightening the harness to get me closer. His legs straddled around me; he had one hand up on the parachute, the other wasn’t. Then I felt him touch my leg.”
She continued to tell them: “He was groping me and moving back and forth into me and talking to me in Arabic. I felt him pressing against me. I kept arching my back.”
The woman ended with, “I felt violated and dirty and was scared. He was only a young lad, maybe around 20. It was a horrible experience and I was really scared. I felt helpless hanging in the air.”
When the parasailing ride ended, the Bristish mom broke down in tears. She went straight to the water sports center where she had made the booking, and reported the assault to the person in charge. She then proceeded to the local police station in Tunisia and filed a formal report.
If you feel that you have been sexually assaulted while visiting another country, here are the guidelines you should take: