Prince Harry tells Melbourne summit he didn’t want royal role after Princess Diana’s death
Prince Harry once revealed that he did not want to continue his life as a royal and admitted that the death of his mother, Princess Diana, made him question his future.
Speaking in a keynote address in Melbourne as part of his tour of Australia, the Duke of Sussex described the emotional toll of growing up in the spotlight following Princess Diana’s death in 1997 and how grief shaped his perspective on duty, identity and mental health.
Recalling the years when he lost his mother just before his 13th birthday, Harry said that this experience made him resistant to the path expected of him.
“I said, ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role; no matter where this goes, I don’t like it,'” he said.
“He killed my mother, and I was so against it and buried my head in the sand for years. I finally realized, wait a minute, if there was someone else in this position, how could they make the most of this platform and this talent and the resources that come with it to make a difference in the world?”
“Also, what would my mother want me to do? And that really changed my perspective.”
Prince Harry made the candid comments while addressing leaders at the InterEdge Summit, which focused on mental health in the workplace. In his 19-minute speech, he acknowledged that despite outward appearances, he continues to deal with the same emotional challenges that many people face. People reported.
“When I was invited to speak at this summit, I wasn’t sure whether I was expected to speak as someone who has his shit together despite everything, or as someone who actually can’t keep his shit together despite what it looks like.”
“But I was struck by something quite simple; although my experiences were unusual, the emotions that came with them were not.”
Prince Harry said grief has long-lasting effects, especially when experienced publicly at a young age.
“In my experience, loss is confusing at any age,” he said.
“Grief doesn’t go away because we ignore it. Experiencing it as a child, in a goldfish bowl under constant surveillance, yes, that will have its challenges. And without purpose, it can break you.”
“There were many times when I felt overwhelmed,” he continued.
“Times when I felt lost, betrayed, or completely powerless. Times when internal and external pressure felt constant. And times when, despite everything going on, I still had to pretend everything was okay so as not to disappoint anyone.”
“I was numb to it for years, and maybe it was easier then, but I also didn’t yet have the tools to deal with it.”
Afghanistan and rebuilding resilience
Prince Harry said his experiences in the military, including two tours in Afghanistan, helped him develop resilience and better understand the importance of addressing emotional struggles rather than suppressing them.
He also noted that becoming a husband and father to Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, helped him reshape his approach to mental health and responsibility.
“When a parent is overwhelmed, kids feel it. When someone is supported, families feel it,” she said.
“One of the biggest shifts for me came when I realized that asking for help is not a weakness, but rather a form of strength.”
Prince Harry added that overcoming unresolved trauma has become a priority as he prepares for parenthood.
“From a therapy standpoint, you definitely want to be the best version of yourself for your kids,” she said.
“And I knew that there were things from the past that I needed to deal with, and so I needed to prepare to basically cleanse myself of the past.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call the SANE Australia Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263).
Young people looking for support can call beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or visit headspace.org.au.
