"Mothers like Meghan sharing their stories is a vital step in breaking down that stigma and shame,"said Sophie King,a midwife at Tommy's,which funds research and runs a helpline for expectant parents and those affected by loss.

"Her honesty and openness today send a powerful message to anyone who loses a baby:this may feel incredibly lonely,but you are not alone."

The intimate details shared in the article are strikingly at odds with the usual policy of senior members of the British royal family,who reveal almost nothing about their personal lives.

Harry's grandmother,the Queen,has never discussed her private life in any media interview in her 68-year reign.

However,there is intense global media interest in the senior royals,especially when it comes to family matters such as the birth of children.

Harry's older brother Prince William and his wife Catherine,the Duchess of Cambridge appeared in front of TV camera crews and photographers as they left the London hospital where all three of their children were born.

Despite the media frenzy,however,the Cambridges have revealed almost nothing of substance about their home life.

The first major break from royal reserve was a TV interview in 1994 which Harry's father Prince Charles gave in which he admitted adultery in his marriage to Diana,Princess of Wales. Diana subsequently gave a 1995 interview in which she also admitted adultery and also spoke of Charles'affair. She also revealed intimate details about her history of self-harm. That interview is still the subject of controversy today.

A source close to Harry said the duke had discussed Meghan's article with the royal family beforehand.

Buckingham Palace said the duchess'article about her miscarriage was"a deeply personal matter,which we would not comment on".

The byline onThe New York Times article reads"Meghan,the Duchess of Sussex",and she was described as"a mother,feminist and advocate".

Meghan wrote that 2020 had brought many people to breaking points,and she called on people to put aside political differences and other divisions and show some care for each other.

"So this Thanksgiving,as we plan for a holiday unlike any before — many of us separated from our loved ones,alone,sick,scared,divided and perhaps struggling to find something,anything,to be grateful for — let us commit to asking others,'Are you OK?',"she wrote.

"As much as we may disagree,as physically distanced as we may be,the truth is that we are more connected than ever because of all we have individually and collectively endured this year."

Meghan and Harry married in May 2018 in a glittering ceremony televised around the world,but the period after their wedding was tumultuous. The couple fell out with some British media and tensions between Harry and William were also exposed.

The Sussexes stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States earlier this year to try and forge a new role for themselves outside the constraints of life in Britain's strictly codified royal bubble.

Among other innovations,they announced in September that they had signed an exclusive multi-year deal with Netflix to produce a range of content.

Netflix is the streaming platform behind popular seriesThe Crown,which fictionalises the personal lives of the British royal family. The current series examines the troubled marriage of Charles and Diana.

Reuters