Meghan Markle needs to learn to “rise above” the cyber bullying claims as she will always be the centre of social media attention, an ex-royal butler has claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex took centre stage when she joined a star-studded lineup for a special panel at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Texas.
During the panel, the Duchess opened up about her own experience with bullying as she insisted more has to be done to create online safeguarding measures.
Speaking on GB News, former butler, Grant Harrold said: “Millions of people sadly get online bullying… it happens all the time.”
He added: “A lot of the members of the Royal Family do not go on social media for that very reason. So they don’t see the negative comments. There is positive but there is always negative.”
The Duchess of Sussex spoke about the harassment she has faced across multiple social media platforms, admitting the “worst of the bullying” came when she was pregnant with her children – Prince Archie Harrison and Princess Lilibet Diana. She told the panel: “The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing on social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili, and [when] they were born.”
Meghan said: “It’s really interesting because I can reflect on it, I keep my distance from [social media] right now, for my own wellbeing.”
GB News hosts questioned if the public wants to see “independence” from someone who will “rise above” bullying. Grant said: “Sometimes you should be rising above it. Catherine the Princess of Wales could be on social media but she doesn’t talk about it.”
The ex-butler also mentioned the importance of the Royal Family having social media in the modern world, which helps the public view and enjoy engagements from behind-the-scenes.
The panel, titled ‘Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen’, first kicked off with Meghan discussing joining actress Geena Davis and Moms First to help raise awareness about the way mothers are depicted on television.
The conversation turned towards social media and “trolling”, with Meghan Markle posing the question of why people would be “hateful” and “cruel” online.
Her keynote speech fell in line with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s efforts to raise awareness about the need for stricter regulation to protect younger users from the dangers of social media.
The pair earlier this year warned that the “best parenting in the world cannot keep children safe from these platforms”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a surprise statement in February after chief executives from several social media giants testified in front of parents who lost their children because of online harm.
