Prince Harry reflects on depression during royal transition
Prince Harry fell into depression when he took a break from royal duties in 2019 before he formally stepped down, he told a videocast about grief, where he also discussed feeling “emotionally numb” after his mother died, reports BritPanorama.
The younger son of King Charles III has been candid about his mental health struggles, particularly the impact of his mother Princess Diana’s sudden death in a car crash when he was just 12 years old. These experiences have shaped his approach to mental well-being.
“I’d spent so long emotionally numb to a large extent because nobody told me joy was still allowed,” he stated during a Masterclass videocast titled “Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss.”
Harry reflected on the stressful climate surrounding the royal family in 2019, mentioning a six-week retreat to Canada with his wife Meghan to evaluate their future. “Being in Canada, away from the stressful environment where presumably my body was just pumped full of adrenaline, within two or three days, I experienced this adrenaline crash, something that I’d never experienced before,” he stated.
He expressed feeling that he required stress to function, revealing, “I actually slipped into depression for about two weeks and I felt like I couldn’t function without adrenaline.”
In the wake of their sojourn in Canada, Harry and Meghan made the announcement that they would cease to be working members of the royal family. This pivotal moment marked a significant shift in their public lives.
Two months prior, the couple relocated back to Britain with their son Prince Archie, 7, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 5, after spending six years in California.
Despite their estrangement, campaigning to raise awareness of mental health issues remains a shared commitment between Harry and his brother, heir-to-the-throne Prince William. However, the siblings’ relationship has reportedly deteriorated, with Harry facing criticism for his public remarks about family tensions.
As Prince Harry navigates his mental health journey, the dynamics within the royal family continue to evolve, illustrating the complexities of personal and public life intertwined.
