Meghan Markle's friend says there are 'many emails and texts' proving the royal family knew about the duchess' mental-health struggles

• Janina Gavankar said the royal family was "well aware" of Meghan Markle's mental-health struggles.
• She said on Wednesday that there were "emails and texts" to prove it.
• Gavankar said Markle turned to friends and Prince Harry after the royals denied her treatment.

Janina Gavankar, a longtime friend of Meghan Markle's, said there was evidence that the royal family and Buckingham Palace staff knew about the Duchess of Sussex's mental-health struggles.

The actress spoke up after Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday that the family was "saddened to learn the full extent" of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's challenges, which Markle said during her tell-all with Oprah Winfrey included suicidal ideation.

On Wednesday's episode of "This Morning," Gavankar weighed in on the palace's statement and said those around Markle were "well aware" of her condition.

"I know that the family and staff were well aware of the extent of it, and though their recollections may vary, ours don't, because we lived through it with them. And there are many emails and texts to support that," the actress said.

She continued: "I don't know who knew. I know that the family and the staff knew."

During the couple's interview with Winfrey, which 17.1 million viewers watched when it aired on CBS in the US on Sunday evening, Markle said a senior member of the royal institution had denied her request for help.

Gavankar said the duchess had turned to her friends and Prince Harry for support. She added that a "wall was built around her" as she became "very isolated."

Gavankar said she was "very angry" at the time at how Markle was treated. She said Markle had asked her friends not to publicly comment, since "the institution would protect them."

"Years later, we see now that was not the truth," Gavankar said.

The actress, who said she watched the CBS primetime special with the couple, also addressed the palace's investigation into allegations that Markle bullied royal staff members. The duchess has denied the accusations.

"I have known her for 17 years, and I have seen the way that she regards the people around her and the people she works with, and I can say she's not a bully," Gavankar said.

She added: "I can also say that I am personally glad that people are doing their due diligence, because I also know why someone had to leave. And it was for gross misconduct. And the truth will come out. There's plenty of emails and texts about that."

Several of Markle's other friends have offered their support for the Duchess of Sussex following her explosive interview with Winfrey.

Serena Williams praised her friend's character in a statement on Twitter on Sunday, calling the duchess a "truly noble" person who had experienced "pain and cruelty."

The tennis champion also condemned the sexism and racism faced by women of color like herself and Markle.

Patrick J. Adams, Markle's "Suits" costar, said on Twitter last Friday that he was "sickened" to "read the endless racist, slanderous, clickbaiting vitriol" about Markle.

"I also knew that Meghan was stronger than people realized or understood and they would regret underestimating her," he wrote.