Prince Harry Reveals What Used to Happen Every Time He Got Dressed for a Royal Engagement
Harry highlighted that his role as a public figure associated with the royal family came with a great price- being judged.
Prince Harry has openly discussed his struggles with depression after exiting royal duties in 2020. In a new MasterClass on grief, released ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10, he recalled an “adrenaline crash” in Canada and the two weeks he felt unable to function. He also described the anxiety he felt before royal engagements
Harry reflected on his journey as a working royal during an insightful discussion with neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor. He highlighted that his role as a public figure associated with the royal family came with a great price — being judged.
The Duke went on to describe his experience of feeling severely anxious, particularly when even something as simple as putting on a dress shirt caused him to feel suffocated and triggered. "There was a time where public engagements just created absolute panic right from beginning to end. The panic was having to put my suit, jacket, and tie on and suddenly feel suffocated,” he continued. “The panic was going from A to B, getting out of the car in front of all the cameras and the clicks," he said while appearing on the Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss MasterClass session.
He identified a significant source of anxiety as the fear of sweating, worrying about how others would perceive him, and his inability to succinctly explain his side, likening his condition to having just been in a boxing match.
"There are some public engagements that still involve adrenaline,” he said, laughing. “I’m not going to lie there. But it’s more appropriate adrenaline," he added. The Duke went on to attribute his control over his fears to therapy, stating that it significantly benefited him. He found confidence and trust in speaking openly with a stranger, learning more about himself in a few sessions than in two decades. His therapist aided him in recognizing and accepting his grief, validating the difficulty of his situation, which initiated his recovery and healing process.
According to InStyle magazine, Harry previously mentioned in Australia that he didn't want the royal role, stating, "I was like, ‘I don’t want this job. ‘" I don’t want this role—wherever this is headed, I don’t like it.’"
