Meghan Markle Spotted ‘Fighting Back Tears’ During Outing in Montecito: ‘The Mask Was Slipping’

Duchess Meghan reportedly suffered a dramatic public breakdown in California, sparking new fears that her seven-year marriage to Prince Harry may be spiraling toward divorce, sources say.

According to an insider, the normally poised Duchess of Sussex appeared to be “overwhelmed” and “fighting back tears” during her visit to a bookstore near Montecito, as divorce rumors mount.

The insider says of the former Suits star, “She’s an actress and can put on a brave face, but the mask was slipping.”

Insiders say that the royal renegades, who left their U.K. palace duties behind in 2020 to chase lucrative Hollywood deals, have been butting heads over Meghan sharing images on social media that include Harry and the couple’s children — Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4.

Some of Meghan’s recent Instagram posts have included footage of her hubby watching the World Series at the pair’s Montecito mansion and a video showing him and the kids at a pumpkin patch in Santa Barbara.

A royal insider says, “One of the many reasons they left the U.K. was because they didn’t want to be chased by paparazzi. They wanted to lead a very private life. It is hypocritical of her to want a private life, then you’re posting pictures of the kids on social media.

“Harry is upset about it because obviously he grew up in the spotlight. He knows what it’s like.”

The protective papa has been vocal about the perils of social media.

During his speech last year at the Clinton Global Initiative in Manhattan, Harry griped that young people were being “disproportionately affected” by negative experiences online and that social networks can leave children feeling “isolated, confused and scared” — or worse, per The Hollywood Reporter.

As the National Enquirer reported earlier this year, sources said the Duke of Sussex, 41, and Meghan, 44, appeared to be living separate lives as they undertook a series of solo engagements after long being joined at the hip.

Royal expert Hilary A. Fordwich believes Harry isn’t fond of the L.A. social scene that his wife seems to adore, and notes, “I do think there is an underlying gulf between what her happy place is and what his happy place is.”

Now, sources believe that Harry is fed up with his haughty honey’s clout-chasing ways and will do everything he can to protect his kids.

The news comes as Meghan makes her return to Hollywood, and insiders say the shocking motive behind her comeback may be the desire to establish an exit strategy from their union.

The former Deal or No Deal model left her acting career in the dust when she got hitched to Harry in 2018 — but she was recently seen shooting a cameo for the upcoming comedy flick Close Personal Friends, which stars Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding.

The insider observes, “Acting could be her attempt to gain independence in case they pull the trigger on their marriage. It could be her saying, ‘I need to go back to my roots. I need to go back to my own kind of thing.’ It’s her backup plan in case she exits.”

Sources say a divorce could be costly for Harry, potentially jeopardizing his estimated $60 million fortune.

Since tying the knot, the couple inked megabucks deals with Netflix and Spotify, and Harry published his bestselling memoir, Spare, and came into his reported $10 million inheritance from his great-granny, the Queen Mother, when he turned 40, per US Weekly. (It’s unknown whether he received anything from his grandma, Queen Elizabeth II.)

Renowned L.A.–based lawyer Louis J. Shapiro tells the Enquirer that California is considered a community property state, meaning any income earned during the marriage could be presumably split 50/50 — “unless they have a prenuptial agreement no one knows about.”

Shapiro adds that Harry may also be on the hook for child support if they were to divorce and Meghan got primary custody of the kids.

The insider predicts, “Meghan would, of course, fight hard for her half of the money. Everything that they’ve earned post-royal life — and I think she would be the first one to say it — is because of her. She’s the one with all the contacts. She’s the one with the Hollywood connections.”

“She may go for half his money — and maybe more — because she would say, ‘Everything we got is because of me.’”