Prince Harry Opens Up About Depression and Grief in Candid Interview

Prince Harry recently opened up about his mental health struggles, grief over the loss of his mother, and life after stepping back from royal duties in a special interview on MasterClass.

Speaking with neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor ahead of World Mental Health Day, the 42-year-old Duke of Sussex revealed that he experienced severe depression after relocating to Canada with Meghan Markle in late 2019. Harry explained that the sudden drop in adrenaline left him feeling entirely incapacitated as his mind struggled to adjust to the newfound peace.

Coping with Past Trauma

Reflecting on the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a 1997 Paris car crash when he was just 12 years old, Harry admitted to experiencing emotional numbness for decades. He confessed that he felt guilty whenever he felt happy, believing he had to remain sad to prove his devotion. He famously did not cry again after her funeral for nearly twenty years.

I was convinced it was a sign of strength, but it was not. I was a 12-year-old boy who didn't allow himself to break down, didn't get proper treatment, and didn't see the path to recovery.

Moving Forward and Finding Joy

Today, Harry keeps a photo of his late mother close by and thinks of her constantly. Despite the profound challenges of the past six years, the Duke expressed profound optimism about his current chapter, emphasizing that his greatest source of energy and joy is spending time with his wife and children.