Meghan and Harry’s determined vow to protect children

Meghan and Harry’s determined vow to protect children Archie and Lilibet
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have vowed to protect children Prince Archie and Lilibet as they launch their campaign focused on cyberbullying and mental health

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are still very young, but worried parents Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are already thinking carefully about their online safety – and they’ve vowed to protect them.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex today gave their first joint interview in three years, this time shedding a light on the harrowing effects of online bullying. For their latest project, The Parents Network, the Sussexes have been focusing their attention on supporting families who’ve lost children to suicide following instances of online bullying.

This is a cause the two passionate mental health advocates clearly care about deeply, and they’ve been inspired partly by their personal concerns for Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

Meghan and Harry show ‘new dynamics’ during heart-rending bullying interview
Meghan and Harry The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archie and Lilibet.
Prince Harry says parents have to be ‘first responders.

Speaking with CBS Sunday Morning’s Jane Pauley, Meghan said: “Our kids are young. They’re three and five. They’re amazing. But all you want to do as parents is protect them. So, as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.”

Harry added: “At this point, we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder. And even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide.”

The Parents’ Network, which is now available for parents to join in the US, UK and Canada, follows a successful two-year pilot programme. Described as a ‘safe, free-to-access peer-support network’, this project includes ‘comprehensive advice and resources provided by a licensed facilitator’, and is understood to offer ‘invaluable support to those in need’.

Highlighting the devastating impact of online bullying in this latest interview, Harry stated: “That’s the scariest thing, it could happen to anybody. We always talk about in the olden days if you’re children were under your roof they would be safe, you knew what they were up to.