Prince Harry gushed about his love for Meghan Markle in the first episode of the highly anticipated “Harry & Meghan” on Netflix Thursday, and shared how she is similar to his late mother, Princess Diana.
Harry spoke about Markle’s kindness and compassion in the new documentary, and expressed that Princess Diana had the same qualities. “So much of what Meghan is and how she is, is so similar to my mom,” Harry said in the first episode. “She has the same compassion, she has the same empathy, she has the same confidence. She has this warmth about her.”
Harry expressed fear that other similarities would seep into his life with Meghan, and spoke about how he feared history would repeat itself when it came to media interference and the way his wife was treated by the royal family.
Harry slammed the press for harassing him relentlessly and expressed his fear that Markle would fall victim to the same fate as his mother, who died in a car crash in 1997. The vehicle she was driving in was being pursued by the paparazzi at the time of the crash.
Harry’s desire to protect his wife from the same outcome suffered became his new focus. The docuseries followed his devotion to ensuring that his actions would force a change in how Markle’s life would be impacted by his family and the press.
“I was terrified of her being driven away by the media,” Harry admitted.
“My biggest regret is not making more of a stance earlier on in my relationship with my wife and calling out the racism when I did,” he said. (RELATED: ‘It’s A Dirty Game’: Prince Harry Slams Royals’ Treatment Of Meghan Markle In New Doc Trailer)
“History was repeating itself,” Harry went on to say. “My mother was chased to her death while she was in a relationship with someone that wasn’t white, and now look what’s happened.”
Harry also criticized the monarchy and the role they played in allowing such behaviors to continue.
“You want to talk about history repeating itself — they’re not going to stop until [Meghan] dies,” he said.
“It’s incredibly triggering to potentially lose another woman in my life, but the list is growing. And it all comes back to the same people, the same business model, the same industry,” Harry said.
The series also drew parallels between Markle and Diana by highlighting the mental health impact felt by both women, and the fact that both Markle and Princess Diana contemplated suicide.