Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has revealed she was bullied while she was pregnant with her second child as she called on tougher measures to be implemented to stop cyber-abuse.

The former Suits actress made a public appearance at the South by Southwest festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, and her speech struck a sombre chord after detailing the extent of vitriol she received.

Meghan shared her experiences of receiving hate messages online and admitted she has now banned herself from going on social media as a method of self-preservation.

“I keep my distance from [social media] right now just for my own wellbeing,” she said.

“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 with a newborn. It’s not catty. It’s cruel.”

The 42-year-old urged people to consider the motivations behind their behavior and refused to accept making money as an excuse for encouraging hate towards certain figures.

In the digital space and in certain sectors of the media, we have forgotten about our humanity. And that has got to change,” Meghan added.

“Because I understand there’s a bottom line, and I understand that a lot of money is being made there. But even if it’s making dollars, it doesn’t make sense.”

Meghan has been targeted for abuse ever since she and her husband, Prince Harry, made the decision to step back from the Royal Family in 2020.

The decision sparked outrage amongst members of the family, with relations between Harry and his brother William and stepmother Queen Camilla said to be at an all-time low. In addition, Meghan is said to have had a falling out with her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales.

The married couple eventually relocated to California to start a new life shortly after the birth of her first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019. They then welcomed the arrival of their daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor on June 4, 2021.

But there remains some underlying tension between the royals and the exiled pair, as it proved when Harry’s visit to see King Charles reportedly lasted just 30 minutes, amid rumors of another argument with the Queen consort.