Duchess Meghan: ‘Pregnancy is like having jet lag,’ she was doing yoga at 4:30 am

Beach Day, Take Two! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Bondi Beach

There are lots of new, smaller pieces of info about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they tour around Australia and make chit-chat with random people. This is quite common – a royal person will be at some event, they’ll say something to a regular person, and then the regular person is somehow authorized to repeat what the royal person said during their small-talk. During their trip to Bondi Beach on Friday, Meghan chatted with a woman about pregnancy and how Meghan is coping:

Charlotte Waverley, 35, met the couple and said she had discussed pregnancy with the duchess. She said: “Meghan told me that pregnancy was like having jet lag. She said she was up at 4.30am this morning doing yoga in her room as she couldn’t sleep.”

[From Sky News]

Is pregnancy like jet lag? Or does Meghan, you know, just have jet lag? It’s quite a time difference between Britain and Australia, and Meghan and Harry didn’t have the “mini-vacation” that Kate and William built into their Australian tour years ago. Do you remember that? William and Kate arrived in Australia, did a photo op and then disappeared for days to acclimate to the time zone change and, you know, because they love to go on vacation. As for doing yoga at 4:30 am… I mean, I’m not going to judge her for that. A few weeks ago, I was waking up at 3:30 am to watch tennis, we all do weird sh-t.

When Meghan and Harry visited the girls’ school in Sydney today, Meghan made a short speech and she and Harry spent a while chatting with the girls and giving them encouragement. Meghan told the girls:

“You guys all remind me so much of myself when I was growing up. I went to an all girls school which was incredibly diverse as well. I think being around such empowered young women, it becomes something that you all just grasp onto to understand your world. It’s made you confident, well-spoken. You have an intention set to really do something to change the world, and you have to keep it up.

[From The Daily Mail]

Every time Meghan has opened her mouth this year, I keep thinking “this is why she was fast-tracked.” Very few royal figures speak with any kind of authenticity and personal history about important subjects like diversity, empowering the historically disenfranchised or women’s rights. Meghan can handle all of this – the Queen knew it, Harry knew it, and Charles knew it.

Also: When Meghan was chatting with a young man about his part-time job, Meghan empathized with him, saying, “My first job when I was 14, I remember taking out the trash, all sorts. It give you a good work ethic, right?” Another reminder that Meghan has had jobs for more than 20 years. That gives her a different perspective too.

Beach Day, Take Two! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Bondi Beach

The Duke & Duchess of Sussex Visit Bondi Beach on their tour of Australia

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

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74 Responses to “Duchess Meghan: ‘Pregnancy is like having jet lag,’ she was doing yoga at 4:30 am”

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  1. Missy says:

    The first few months of pregnancy was kind of like jet lag for me, worse though. After the first trimester I started having a lot of nightmares and trouble sleeping. I was up cooking soup at 3am. Pregnancy does weird things to your mind and body

    • hkk says:

      I totally forgot about the weird pregnancy dreams! I had super vivid and prophetic dreams, things that happened later in my life. My normal is sort of moody and grumpy and I always have to manage that. During pregnancy I must be getting the right hormones because I spend most of my pregnancies blissed out. I do remember being exhausted during my first trimesters and crashing after work, going to sleep for the night at 6pm! Seriously and really needing to up my protein intake. I don’t know how she is doing this right now. I think she is riding high on the experience. I think she is still truly in awe of her life right now and so grateful for it all that is giving her endorphins to go go go. I’m so happy for them.

      • K says:

        Oh my gosh! I also had prophetic dreams with my second pregnancy. I have never heard anyone else say they did and I have now shied away from sharing it with others because they look at me like I’m crazy. I am so excited to read about another mother who experienced this!

  2. Anna nuttall says:

    The poor girl must be going through the ‘tired’ phrase of pregnancy when all you want to do is sleep all day. Plus, it must be extra hard as she flew right across the other side of the world and doing activities all day long. Good on her doing yoga so early in the morning. Gosh I could never do that!

  3. Escondista says:

    Oh the first three months are awful for me. I’m dead tired and nauseated.
    I’ve had two miscarriages in a row this year so I’ve been first trimester pregnant for about 5 months with no baby to snuggle at the end. Hoping 2019 is better for us and I’m so impressed and proud of Meghan for working and I look forward to seeing their sweet baby – hoping it comes at the end of April. Prince Louis was born on my birthday!

    • Nikki says:

      Sending you hugs and wishing the best for your coming year! I hope you get your bundle of joy!

    • Tania says:

      Sending positive thoughts and strength your way.

    • mia girl says:

      Hugs to you @Escondita. I know how hard the miscarriages can be (I also had 2).
      Sending you tons of positive energy as you continue on the journey.

    • HeyThere! says:

      Sending me you all my hugs today!!!! I’m sorry and I hope you get that rainbow baby.

    • Flying fish says:

      Blessing and love coming your way for 2019.

    • hkk says:

      I hope you have all the support you need. MCs can be so difficult emotionally and physically. Sending sticky baby vibes~~~***

    • Bella DuPont says:

      Sending you lots of hugs, love and positive Karma for healthy babies for 2019!

    • Malificent says:

      Sending magic baby dust your way.

    • Nikki says:

      That you can have endured 2 miscarriages in one year, yet remain very happy for someone else’s baby dream, shows a very strong and a very loving person. I pray that 2019 is much, much happier for you, and am sending you love and best wishes!

    • Himmiefan says:

      I’m glad it stopped the talk of 37 is sooooo old, it will take foreeeeever to get pregnant. Well apparently not, and they didn’t have time to do IVF. Anyway, I love Meghan and Harry and how Meghan’s hit several home runs so far.

    • Lilalis says:

      Sending lots of hugs your way! I also had my second miscarriage recently, I would have been as far along as Meghan right now. I’m having a much harder time coping than I did with the first miscarriage. Let’s hope for a better 2019 for the both of us!

  4. Ohplease says:

    Just love meg…..sigh. Just love everything about her. Style, beauty and brains. And love that she’s part of what i like to call the new world order (hehe). A world where diversity and wokeness will be normal rather than exceptional. This is the trump voters worst nightmare.

    • Bella DuPont says:

      Couldn’t agree more! 
      You know, seeing how brilliantly Meghan is performing at “Duchessing”, I keep wondering if Charles looks at her and can see the mistakes he made in dealing with Diana’s own brand of brilliance……I wonder if he makes a particular effort to encourage her to shine, in a way he was never able to do all those years ago with his very young wife.

      I also wonder if he’s had the courage to discuss it with Harry…..maybe given him some advice on how to harness and nurture his wife’s strengths, rather than be threatened by it……because the family (Queen included) sure seem to be dealing with Meghan in a significantly more enlightened, encouraging and tolerant way than they did with Diana.
      It makes me wonder…..is it just a function of the times or did the difference in their personalities also drive how they were received?

      It would be amazing to get some insight into those dynamics.

      • Masamf says:

        @Bella, I agree with you on many levels. I was thinking today coming back from work and I thought, I would like to be a fly on PoW wall. He must be swelling with pride about how his baby boy has turned out. I thought about Harry falling out of bars, fighting with the paps, nude in Vegas and I thought his father must have been going through hell watching his child self-destruct but feeling powerless at the same time, and possibly blaming himself. Then came 2014 and suddenly his baby grew up, founded Invictus, which became such a hit, then he met a nice gal and fell in love, brought the gal home to his parents and they liked her too, then married that gal and now is expecting a child of his own, sounds like a fairy tell, non? I agree, I too believe PoW is advising Harry on a lot of things and drawing his wisdom from learning from his own mistakes. I also believe Harry, when he said getting help is the best decision he has ever made. Like Harry, many people with MI self “medicate” with either alcohol or drugs or both. I’m happy for both PoW and Harry that Harry has turned out alright. Maybe Charles can now forgive himself, I think he did a good job, under the circumstances, raising those boys after their mom was suddenly taken away from them.

      • Nikki says:

        Your post is very thought provoking, and I really love it.

      • Bella DuPont says:

        @Nikki
        That’s a very sweet comment, Nikki, thank you. 😊

        @Madamf
        You are so right!
        It’s really heartwarming to see actual growth (that came from so much heartache and trauma) in action. It can’t have been easy.

      • Dee Kay says:

        To be honest, while Diana had sooooo much natural talent and phenomenal instincts for royal work (and what an innovator, too!!! she broke so much new ground), she was so very young when she married Prince Charles that I think a lot of the family’s seeming dislike of her — or, not dislike exactly, but not knowing what to do with her or about her, a lot of the time — had to do with Diana’s being immature and not very good at expressing what she wanted/needed in an adult way.
        Meghan comes into the family as a working woman, with her own fortune, and decades of professional and life experience, and independence. She is a mature, grown adult. I think she married Harry at just about the same age as Diana was when Diana died. There is probably a big difference between Meghan and Diana in terms of how they handle things, how they communicate with the RF, how they deal with stress, etc. Poor Diana, a teenager when she became the most famous woman in the world, probably had no clue how to navigate or negotiate those family waters. For someone in her late 30s like Meghan, with her naturally gracious and can-do spirit, that stuff is no problem.

  5. Noodles says:

    I suspect it’s more jet lag than pregnancy. If anything early pregnancy makes most people want to sleep all the time, not wake up at 4.30am to do yoga, but then each to their own.

    It’s interesting just how different Meghan is to most of the other royals, in ways we don’t really think about. She really has lived a bit and worked. I guess my biggest concern though is that she’s being built up to impossible standards and this is just a honeymoon period. There’s not much balance with the reporting I read about Meghan and Harry. It’s all either that she’s wonderful or terrible. People don’t seem to be able to remain objective.

    • notasugarhere says:

      She isn’t different from most royal married-ins, Kate is. Daniel, Letizia, Sophie, Maxima, Mary. They lived in the real world, most were middle class, earned their livings, worked from young ages, and had careers before they met their royal spouse.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        +1M

        Totally agree!

        The greatest difference and made up story is that of waity middleton. Such a negative on hard working women/and who are mothers – such a waste of good status and resources …. to the lest of us, from where she the middletons came.

    • Malificent says:

      I did find in my first trimester that I’d get extra tired at weird times of the day — not just always at the end of the day. I’d be tired at 10 AM after a good night’s sleep, but OK at 4 PM. It did feel like my clock was off, even though I didn’t travel anywhere more than two states away.

  6. Kirsten S says:

    She looks so pretty.

  7. Liz says:

    So into Meghan. She’s so classic!

  8. tifzlan says:

    She is honestly one of the most beautiful women i’ve ever seen, enhanced by her natural, easy-going personality. She’s truly a charm.

    • a reader says:

      She is absolutely glowing in every way and I think she’s never looked more beautiful than she does in these pictures.

      I just adore everything about her.

  9. Avery says:

    I love these little inside stories. Meg and Harry are so cute. So happy for the both of them. Harry is going to be such a doting father and Meg will be a good mom just like Doria.

  10. Clare says:

    Kinda mad at her for making me LIKE a ‘royal’. Girl has good chat and seems like such a genuinely nice person.

    Harry is 100% punching above his weight. I mean this is a man who was wearing nazi uniforms and using slurs well into his 20’s…how did he land this lovely, educated and erudite woman??

    Please don’t come at me with your Harry defence, please and thank you. He may have grown up and changed or whatever, but he was already an adult when he did that. I will never forget that image of him wearing that costume.

    • gingersnaps says:

      Maybe he grew up and realise the error of his ways? People change and I think Harry has grown and matured, far from his falling out of club drunk days now.

      • Clare says:

        @gingersnap – at what point do we stop using the ‘he grew up/changed’ reasoning to excuse unacceptable behaviour? Would you afford the same luxury to, I don’t know, Justin Bieber, or would he be ‘cancelled’? Do ginger princes get extra leeway? Would you make the same excuse for him had he used slurs against black people, rather than Arabs? Not being facetious, just wondering where we draw the line.
        He wasn’t a child when he used slurs, nor when he was photographed in a nazi costume.
        At what point do we stop playing along with the ‘he’s changed’ narrative? Or will we, women, forever find a way to justify and forgive the actions of rich white men?

        TBH he is probably my favourite Windsor, but he is hugely problematic and I can’t believe so many women continue to make excuses for him. I mean it’s nice to have a fantasy about how nice the ginger prince is, but…come on.

      • Royalwatcher says:

        @Clare – I’m curious for you, though, at what point can you (or do you never?) accept that someone can/has changed? He accepted the fallout from his behavior, apologized, and hasn’t repeated it. For me, this is far different from someone who makes some non-apology “sorry if you were offended” apology or who just waits for it to blow over and then goes on as they were before. I believe he’s also stated that being in the Army and in therapy changed him.

        For me, if someone appears to learn from their mistakes, then it’s okay to give them another chance. I believe most people have the capacity to grow and change and if their current behavior and lifestyle shows they’ve changed then I can change my judgement of them.

        I’m also curious as to why do you think it’s “playing along” with the ‘he’s changed’ narrative rather than he actually has changed? Do you think he’s really the same person he was back then?

        He also does seem to be completely aware that he’s punching above his weight. I mean he said in the engagement interview that he knew right away that he had to up his game if he wanted to get to know Meghan better. Seems pretty self aware to me.

    • OriginalLala says:

      I agree Clare – I’m not pro monarchy at all and I do like Meg because she seems to want to take advantage of her position to do good, which, if we are being honest, many royals only pay lip service to. I also think that Harry is 150% punching above his weight, hopefully he is learning from her on how to become a more empathetic person

    • duchess of hazard says:

      @Clare. I agree with your comment. 100 percent. Harry is a lucky man, and he knows it.

    • Lara K says:

      I have a feeling something happened to Harry in his mid-late twenties that snapped him out of his d0uche ways. Maybe someone had the guts to tell him some home truths. His mother would not have been proud of him then, but she sure would be now.

      He definitely lucked out though. But I also think he knows it – he does not seem to be taking her for granted in any way.

      • Dixiebells says:

        I think he’s actually addressed this in referring to both his military service and buried issues around his mothers death. He’s said that he didn’t process it and held a lot inside and it caused some self destructive behavior. I know this thread is commenting on if people can change/grow up etc. I think for someone with his fame and in a family who doesn’t talk about such things, him addressing this as forwardly as he has actually makes more sense that he’s changed changed and matured. I fully acknowledge this is not the case with PLENTY of people. And I agree with others what I find delightful about them is he could totally play the prince/status/image card (and I think he probably did in younger years) but now that he’s with Meghan he seems as though he’s totally aware that he landed with someone so out of his league.

    • Catrìona says:

      Oh please! I remember that. It was a fancy dress party. (Costume party in US terminology.) I thought it was hilarious, in a fish-out-of-water way.

      Imagine for a moment that there is a neighbourhood Halloween party for adults. Someone comes dressed as the Ayatollah Khomeini. If it’s Mr Evans, the accountant, it’s amusing. If it’s Rabbi Cohen it’s hilarious.

      I never understood why so many people’s noses were so out-of-joint.

      As for the drinking, it’s nasty. Sadly, it’s also normal for so many young Brits.

    • MeghanNotMarkle says:

      Clare, please consider the ignorance of your argument and really think about this. I didn’t lose my mother at a young age but I had plenty of trauma in my youth and followed a similar path to Harry. I was an adult in age only but my emotional development was stunted at the age of my major trauma. Like Harry, I wasn’t able to mature until I sought help and dealt with the events of my childhood head on. My life is a complete 180 from even 7 years ago but I am still haunted by my past, a lot of that is thanks to people like you. Unless you’ve been there you can’t possibly understand it. Harry has overcome a lot and I applaud him for putting in the hard work and being honest about it.

  11. Amelie says:

    For me, yoga really helps center myself while getting a workout (especially if it’s a vinyasa class). I haven’t been in a few months but I’ve been wanting to get back into it. My sister is doing a 200 Yoga Teaching Training course right now–in fact I know quite a lot of people who have done the YTT in the past year. I’ve been wondering if it’s something I should do (even if they are expensive). I think it’s great Meghan is a yogi and has been for years. I’m sure it’s helped her with everything her awful sister and father have done over the past few months.

    • Antonym says:

      Amelie – I debated with myself about doing YTT and finally decided to do it and I’m so glad I did. I did two different training programs. The first was vinyasa, and I found that in addition to learning how to teach it really improved my personal practice. The second program I did was ashtanga, and I fell in love with it.

      I’ve only rarely taught, but I feel like my home practice benefited so much- especially from the second program. (First program really focused of physical practice and the second was a more holistic program).

  12. gingersnaps says:

    She looks absolutely radiant and gorgeous! I’m amazed that she has the energy to carry out all these engagements. I was nauseous and queasy for most of my first trimester plus I couldn’t stand the thought of food much less it eat and my sense of smell was really sharp which made it all the more uncomfortable, I think I just wanted to sleep but life goes on and bills need paying.

  13. Sam says:

    OMG that dress is so beautiful. I love it!

  14. Leyton says:

    Meghan is truly a gem. The Royal Family should be thanking her for years to come for the Goodwill she’s afforded them.

    I’m sure Mama is tired though. The travel wasn’t easy and she got there and started working the very next day. Most people would be tired but add on a pregnancy and you are feeling twice at tired at times. The Jet Lag throws off her sleep pattern but the baby is probably screaming for her to get rest.

    Poor Meghan. Hopefully she’ll get some rest the next few days. It should be light.

    Either way, I just love her. Meghan just seems like a really good person who does her best to live a good and happy life. Something about her just makes me want to believe in myself and do better.

    Harry really did lucked out by marrying her. He seems to know it too!

  15. HeyThere! says:

    My pregnancy with my youngest, a girl, was so awful I think we are finished having kids. I puked day and night from 5 weeks to 30 weeks. I had insomnia, also. I was always exhausted and yet could not sleep. It was awful but it got me this sweet girl so it is what it is. My oldest, a boy, I was able to experience those amazing naps and deep sleep alllll the time. Lol. Never puked. Although I did get awful headaches with each pregnancy. Yikes. I will add I stay at home with these kids and my hats off to any mom that works outside the house while pregnant. I was so Ill with my last, I would have been fired. It was also weird how different both my pregnancy experiences were. It’s unpredictable!!

  16. Apples says:

    I don’t know how she is not tired. They are meeting new people and going places every day and saying only the right things all the while being aware of the cameras… When does she rest? Does she need rest? I’ve always been jealous of people who can manage in 4-5hour sleep continuously. I need to sleep at least 7 hours to feel like a person. If I get more than that I feel like a nice person.

    • KK2 says:

      My impression was that she is going to bed early and waking up early (thus like jet lag), not that she can’t sleep at all. My last pregnancy I got up early (not 430, but like 7) without an alarm, which was very unlike me until that point. And I was exhausted by like 9 pm, when usually I stay up til 12. But I’m not ruling out actual jet lag in her case. I suspect she’s going to bed early though, so I wouldn’t worry about that. I haven’t seen pics from any evening events so far, so maybe that’s how they accommodated it- no evening events for first week or so.

  17. Meg says:

    part of me thinks this is why harry looked so emotional during their wedding, he seemed to know she has options in her life, she didn’t wait around for a decade following him around waiting for the ring. she’s got her own life her own stuff happening-knowing the sacrifices made when you marry someone in the royal family in terms of privacy or just personal freedom in your choices-he knew what meg was sacrificing-whereas kate wanted all of that and was waiting around for will because she didn’t have anything else going for herself and will knew she’d be there whenever he proposed and would stick by him no matter how he treated her. Meghan is a feminist-she speaks up for herself

  18. Starryfish29 says:

    I saw somewhere that Harry also talked about how it took him 18 months to find the right therapist to talk to, and how it’s really something you have to work at. That’s such an important message for people to hear,. I’m happy to see that he really seems to have turned things around in his life and is in a good place.

    • Royalwatcher says:

      I saw that too, and I’m glad he kept looking until he found the right person. It makes all the difference! I’m a therapist and think the the most important thing is the relationship between client and therapist. I currently work at a community mental health center and always tell people during the intake that if they don’t feel they click with me or don’t like my style, I will never take offense at them switching to someone else. The most important thing is for them to have someone they feel comfortable with. I just put it right out there so they don’t have to worry about hurting my feelings or feeling obligated to stay with me.

      • Who ARE These People? says:

        IIRC the research identifies comfort level with a therapist as a key factor in its success — you can’t spill your guts to just anyone

  19. YankLynn says:

    Some media outlet was reporting that the couple have 15- 20 minute breaks that have been added into all the stops and are probably why the couple have been running a bit late to nearly everything. Its surmised that Meghan is resting for a bit on these breaks that were not on the agendas. I remember how sleepy/tired I was in the first trimester and not sure 15 minutes is enough of a nap 🙂 But maybe it gives her enough time to sit down or use the bathroom and close her eyes for a few minutes.

    • Masamf says:

      They reported that the breaks are built in for ALL royals on such tours, not just fir the Sussexes. They said that Meg is taking advantage of these built in breaks to put her feet up etc.

  20. rabbitgirl says:

    It sure is like jet leg, but worse and lasts longer. It sucks frankly

  21. HelloSunshine says:

    It definitely feels like constant jet lag. She could also be experiencing all the fun sleep things that come with pregnancy like peeing way more at night (I got two glorious weeks of only waking up once per night!), pregnancy insomnia, crazy dreams that wake you up and can be super terrifying or so weird you just try to figure out what the heck happened, restless leg syndrome (less common but oh man, what an adventure if it happens to you), etc. I can’t imagine flying across the world while pregnant. I’d be so miserable 😂

  22. Loretta says:

    She’s in a league of her own.

  23. Franny Days says:

    Omg pregnant and I woke up at 4am this morning. I did not do yoga. I ate leftover lasagna COLD.

  24. Case says:

    The videos of Meghan and Harry on this tour have been so delightful. They are so personable and kind to everyone they meet, so sweet with kids, and so well-spoken. I just love them. Meghan has such class and radiates warm vibes.

  25. Fluffy Princess says:

    I am always in awe of how photogenic Meghan is! It doesn’t matter which angle she is photographed from, she always looks beautiful! Her smile is genuine and she just seems like a nice, kind person. No wonder Harry is in awe of her–and looks pleased as punch 99.9% of the time. He seems quite keen to have a partner for his (and her) adventures!

    Also, they way he looks at her sometimes–hotness x 1000. He lurves him some Meghan that’s for sure.

  26. BANANIE says:

    I’m always impressed when people talk about working from a young age. I think working in middle school or high school after class gets out is an excellent way to instill a hard work ethic and willingness to pay your dues with a good attitude. I had friends growing up who didn’t work at all during the school year or even the summer and there was a definite difference in their expectations when they formally entered the work force after college.

  27. Monique says:

    When I was pregnant I threw up the first 4 months all day every day and then after that my sleep routine was totally off wack I would sleep a couple of hours in the morning then be up all night now I have a 3 year old and still no sleep

  28. Shaleah says:

    When I was pregnant I used to say the exact same thing about it feeling like I have jet lag. Perfect description.

  29. MeghanNotMarkle says:

    I had jet lag with all of my pregnancies but the last baby also gave me air sickness for 4 months straight. Bless her and her desire to do her job no matter what. Good thing she got into the second trimester before this trip or she might have been literally falling over tired. Been there, done that.