The Duchess of Sussex has spoken publicly for the first time about her struggle with intense media attention following her wedding, pregnancy and birth of her first child.

In a pre-interview with ITVs’s Tom Bradby about the couple’s official visit to South Africa, Meghan admitted feeling really vulnerable during her pregnancy and after the birth of her first child amid negative headlines, including criticism for having a private baptism.

The clip shows Bradby asking about what impact has been on your physical and mental health all the pressure you clearly feel under?

Appearing nervous, Megan replies: Look, any woman, especially when they’re pregnant you’re really vulnerable, so it’s been made very challenging, and when you have a newborn, you know … It’s really a lot of it. So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed and his … Yes.

She then adds: Thanks for the question because not many people have asked if Im OK, but it’s a very real thing to go behind the scenes.

Bradby, who was traveling with the couple on their 10-day tour, continues: And the answer? It would be fair to say, not quite OK? As in: its really been a struggle? To which Mehgan replies: Yes.

During the tour, Prince Harry released a statement on the Sussex Royal website, at the same time it was announced that Meghan had sued the Daily Mail over the publication of a private letter she wrote to her father. The newspaper denies any wrongdoing.

In a statement, Harry admonished the tabloid press for their ruthless campaign against his wife, adding: “there Is a human cost to this relentless propaganda, particularly when it is knowingly false and malicious, and while we continued to put on a brave face as so many of you can relate to I can’t begin to describe how painful it was.”

It was the second time Harry has made public appearances on behalf of his wives, the first time he has accused Newspapers of crossing the line, including harassment of Meghan’s family and close friends and the racial undertone of some reports about her mixed Heritage.

Speaking about Harry in his special report, Bradby tells Meghan: Hes obviously very concerned about protecting you, and protecting you from what he felt his mother went through.

During the same trip, Harry told Bradby that his grief for his mother, Princess Diana, is still “a wound that festers,” adding that the press intrusion is the worst reminder of her life, as opposed to the best.”

The full interview appears in the documentary Harry and Meghan: an African journey, which airs on ITV this Sunday at 9pm.