MEGHAN SECRETLY STRUGGLING

Life is far lonelier for Meghan Markle than she ever imagined as she tries to balance motherhood, work and failing friendships

Back in December B 2020, Meghan Markle and her husband Prince Harry signed a multimillion-dollar deal to produce content for Spotify and on Aug. 23, the Duchess of Sussex finally debuted her first podcast in a series of 12. But the reviews were brutal. Meghan "hijacks every distressing anecdote with one of [her] own," wrote Britain's Daily Telegraph of Archetypes with Meghan. A critic for The Times branded the episode - in which she was joined by tennis champ Serena Williams - a "parade of banalities, absurdities, and self-aggrandizing Californian platitudes." Meanwhile, other outlets called it "pure, narcissistic gibberish" and a "faintly queasy schmooze-fest."

Bad reviews are the least of Meghan's problems, though. More than two-and-a-half years after leaving Britain for Cali, Meghan is having a tough time finding her way, explains a source: "She's a prime example of how money can't buy happiness. The reality is she's leading a lonely, lonely life." According to the source, many of Meghan's friendships have faded, issues have cropped up in her marriage, and parenting kids Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 14 months, has created its own set of problems. "Meghan is struggling," says the source. "It's as if she's trapped in this dark hole that she can't climb out of."

A SUDDEN SHIFT