The first signs of that discomfort had already been made public in 2019, during TV special Harry & Meghan: An African Journey<\/em>. In the show, journalist Tom Bradby asked her directly about her emotional state. “Thank you for asking, because not many people have asked me if I’m well,” the duchess replied then, visibly moved. In that same conversation she added: “Any woman, especially when she’s pregnant, is really vulnerable.”<\/p>\n For his part, Prince Harry has explained on several occasions that that trip made him aware of the impact that public pressure was having on his wife, an experience that would end up weighing on the decision of both to abandon their roles within the British royal family.<\/p>\n Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit South Melbourne Beach October 18, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia.<\/p>\n <\/span>Pool<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The Pacific tour has been noted by the couple as a turning point in their interactions with other royals. In his interview with Oprah Winfrey<\/a> in 2021, Prince Harry claimed that that trip marked a before and after in his relationship with the royal family. \u201cYou know, my father, my brother, Kate and all the rest of the family, they were, they were really welcoming. But it really changed after the Australia tour. After our South Pacific tour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s when we announced we were pregnant with Archie. That was our first tour,\u201d Meghan added. \u201cBut it was also\u2026it was also the first time that the family got to see how incredible she is at the job and that brought back memories,\u201d Harry concluded.<\/p>\n