Meghan reveals she was cyber-bullied when pregnant with Archie & Lilibet as duchess hits out at online trolls in speech

Meghan also lambasted “online conspiracies”, just days after her sister-in-law Kate Middleton was dogged by rumours about her health

MEGHAN Markle was cyber bullied when pregnant with Archie & Lilibet, she has revealed.

Speaking at an International Women’s Day event in Austin, Texas, the 42-year-old said the attacks were “hateful” and “cruel”.

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Meghan Markle was cyber bullied when pregnant with Archie & Lilibet, she has revealedCredit: Rex

Prince Harry was in the audience for the International Women’s Day event in Austin, Texas
She also blasted “online conspiracies” about women as a supportive Prince Harry watched from the front row.

Meghan told the SXSW conference on Friday: “The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing in social media and online, was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili.

“And you just think about that and really wrap your head around what people would be so hateful.

“It’s not catty, it’s cruel, why you would do that? Certainly when you’re pregnant and you have a newborn.”

Meghan said despite how “painful” the abuse was, her “mammalian instinct” kicked in and she got though it.

She admitted she now keeps her distance from social media emphasising the “negative effect” it has on mental health and physical safety.

Actress Brooke Shields and US presenter Katie Couric were among the famous faces who took part in Friday’s talk, attended by Prince Harry.

The Duke cheered his wife on in the front row alongside Soho House boss Markus Anderson, considered the “second most important man in Meghan’s life”.

During the event, Meghan – praised as a “driving force for positive change” – said much of her work focuses on giving equal opportunities to disadvantaged women.

She said this issue is not helped by how “disturbing” social media trolling of women, specifically by other women, can be.

‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES’

Online “conspiracy theories” were particularly toxic and dangerous, Meghan said.

The mum-of-two explained: “I cannot make sense of that.

“If you’re reading something terrible, terrible about a woman, why are you sharing it with your friends?

“Why are you choosing to put that out in the world? What if it was your friend, your mum, your daughter?”

The bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing in social media and online, was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili

Meghan Markle Speaking In Austin, Texas

Meghan went on to demand more be done about the scourge of online abuse and trolls.

She added: “There are lots of women at the highest executive level who are great champions of women, great philanthropists, and they are working in these spaces.

“And yet they are allowing these behaviours to run rampant.

“And at a certain point, they have got to put the do’s behind the say’s, and really make some changes on a systemic level.”

The Sussexes enjoyed a romantic evening at ultra-exclusive Soho House Austin on Thursday, according to People magazine.

The pair’s first date was at the London branch of the chain in July 2016.

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The event was hosted by SXSW and featured star speakers including US TV presenter Katie Couric (R)Credit: Matthew Symons for The Sun

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The Duke cheered his wife on in the front row alongside Soho House boss Markus Anderson, considered the ‘second most important man in Meghan’s life’

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Meghan was lauded as a ‘driving force for positive change’ at the International Women’s Day event