Prince Harry Reveals He Hated Royal Life After Princess Diana’s Death: 'It Killed My Mother'
On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex delivered a powerful speech at the InterEdge Summit.
Over the years, Prince Harry has opened up about the massive impact of losing his mother, Princess Diana, at a very young age. From interviews and documentaries to mental health campaigns and several important speeches, Harry has often shared how he suppressed his emotions for decades before finally opening up about one of the most tragic phases of his life. Recently, one such moment occurred during Harry and Meghan's ongoing Australia tour, where the Duke shared how he once rejected royal life, believing it 'killed' his mother, though his perspective changed later on.
On day three of the tour, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped into the spotlight by delivering a powerful speech at the InterEdge Summit, which focused on leadership, workplace well-being, and the importance of genuine human connection. At one point, Harry recalled how he felt 'lost, betrayed, and completely powerless' in his life after losing his mother, as reported by The Mirror. Furthermore, soon after the speech, he had a conversation with former politician and business leader, Brendan Nelson, when he said, “After my mum died just before my 13th birthday – I was like: ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role – wherever this is headed, I don’t like it.’"
Harry added, “It killed my mum, and I was very much against it, and I stuck my head in the sand for years and years. Eventually, I realized – well, hang on, if there was somebody else in this position, how would they be making the most of this platform and this ability and the resources that come with it to make a difference in the world? And also, what would my mum want me to do? And that really changed my own perspective.” Diana died in the early hours of 31 August 1997, from the injuries that she sustained in a car crash in Paris.
Moving ahead, the Duke reflected on how his military service helped a lot in shaping his mindset, even explaining that his two tours in Afghanistan taught him that true resilience isn’t about hiding or ignoring your struggles, but about developing the strength to face and manage any challenges that come your way. Along with this, he added that stepping into the roles of a husband and father brought a different and new sense of clarity, grounding his outlook and helping him find a deeper sense of purpose in life.
As reported by People Magazine, Harry noted, “When a parent is overwhelmed, children feel it. When someone is supported, families feel it." "For me, one of the biggest shifts came when I realized that asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s very much a form of strength." Meanwhile, before heading to the summit, the royal couple spent some time at youth mental health charity Batyr, where they were seen engaging in an open conversation with young people about the impact of social media on one's well-being, and also sharing their personal experiences.
