Meghan Markle says she 'clung closely to Prince Harry' amid pregnancy weight gain

The revelation came during the season one finale of her podcast "Confessions of a Female Founder" on Tuesday, where she spoke with Spanx founder Sara Blakely.

The conversation turned to uncomfortable footwear when discussing Blakely's new business venture, which combines the comfort of a trainer with the elegance of a high heel.

Meghan opened up about her pregnancy experiences whilst still serving as a working royal alongside Prince Harry.

"I gained 65 pounds with both pregnancies," she revealed, referring to her two children shared with Prince Harry, six-year-old Prince Archie, and three-year-old Princess Lilibet.

During her time as a senior royal, Meghan regularly wore "five-inch, pointy-toed stilettos" whilst pregnant with Archie, who was born in May 2019.

The duchess explained that navigating royal duties in towering heels became particularly challenging as her pregnancy progressed.

"I was clinging very closely to my husband, like, 'Please don't let me fall,'" Meghan revealed on the podcast.

Prince Harry provided crucial support during public appearances as Meghan carried out her royal responsibilities in the UK.

The couple presented Archie to the media in an official photo call after his birth, with Meghan still wearing her signature heels for the occasion.

The duchess recalled a friend recently mentioning a forgotten photograph from her pregnancy with Archie.

"A friend just said to me the other day, they were like, 'I just saw this picture I'd forgotten about when you were so pregnant with Archie,'" Meghan shared.

Her friend had commented on her "enormous bump" and "tiny little ankles bracing themselves in these high heels."

Meghan explained the particular challenge she faced due to her weight distribution during pregnancy.

"All of my weight was in the front," she said. "So you're just going, how on earth am I not just tipping, you know, face planting?"

Earlier this month, Meghan revealed she consulted an Ayurvedic doctor during both her pregnancies, focusing on "food as medicine".

"If you aren't familiar with adaptogens, you can go to this place of 'Oh, it's feeling a little psychedelic and super woo-woo'," she said on her podcast.

Whilst Prince Archie was born amid the formalities of royal life in Windsor, Princess Lilibet's arrival in California allowed for a more relaxed experience.

Now settled in Santa Barbara, Meghan balances her signature heels with more casual moments at home.

The duchess recently shared a sweet Instagram Reel showing herself and three-year-old Lilibet in matching beekeeper suits, gathering honey in their garden.