At an event in Australia, Prince Harry spoke about the personal inner work he had to do before stepping into his new role as a father. The Duke of Sussex candidly discussed addressing issues from his past as he prepared for a new chapter in his marriage to Meghan Markle. His comments offer a rare look at his parenting philosophy and how he approaches raising his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Prince Harry Talks About Therapy
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are currently on a privately funded tour in Australia, and on April 15, the former spoke about fatherhood at a Movember event held in Melbourne. Prince Harry shared that before he and Meghan welcomed their first child, he sought therapy in preparation for parenthood.
He stated that he wanted to be the “best version” of himself for his child and that he had to reflect on his past to move forward. “I knew that I had stuff from that past that I needed to deal with and therefore, prepare myself to basically cleanse myself of the past,” Prince Harry noted.
Looking back, the Duke said that the biggest takeaway he had from his therapist was to “just be aware of how you feel once the baby is born.”
In October 2018, the last time the Sussexes were in Australia, they officially announced that Meghan was pregnant with their first child. She gave birth to a son, Archie Harrison, on May 6, 2019.
The Duke Initially Felt A ‘Disconnection’
Days following the birth of their son, Prince Harry told reporters, “Parenting is amazing. It’s only been what, two and a half days, three days, but we’re just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy.”
At the event, Prince Harry told the audience how he initially felt. “Certainly, I felt a disconnection because my wife was the one creating life, and I was there to witness it,” he shared, adding, “You try to think about what service can I provide at this point, because my work here is done to some extent,” the Duke said.
Recalling his therapist’s advice, Prince Harry assessed his emotions, which shifted his perspective. Admittedly, he said the first few weeks after Archie’s birth were a “real struggle,” which many fathers in the audience related to.
Prince Harry Tells Fathers They Are ‘Not Alone’
During the talk, Prince Harry reminded fathers that they are “not alone” in their parenthood journey. Addressing the audience, he said, “To the dads and soon-to-be dads, yes, it’s messy. You’ll have a rollercoaster of emotions. And don’t judge yourself.”
The Duke commended Movember’s “revolutionary” efforts, hoping that with talks like the one he attended, more men will gain confidence and be open about their feelings. “There’s an evolution happening here, and I think the more guys that come forward and talk about it, the higher those numbers will be because those numbers are remarkable and very telling in a culture where it’s not really talked about,” Prince Harry stated.
Movember was founded in Melbourne in 2003. What started as a push to bring back the mustache and raise awareness for men’s health has evolved into a charity focused on mental health, prostate cancer awareness, and suicide prevention.
The Sussexes Are Protective Of Their Children
In 2023, journalist Tom Bradby had a conversation with Prince Harry about his book, “Spare,” for the documentary “Harry: The Interview.” During their talk, the Duke opened up about his strained relationship with his father and brother, adding that he wants to reconcile with them.
Elsewhere in the interview, Prince Harry talked about his distrust of the media, holding them responsible for the troubles many of the royals faced throughout the years. As a result, he is protective of his children.
“I will always protect my family, and now I have a family to protect. So everything that [my mother] went through, and what happened to her, is incredibly important every single day, and that is not me being paranoid. That is just me not wanting a repeat of the past,” said Prince Harry.
Prince Harry On Stepping Away From Royal Duties
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan announced that they would step back as senior members of the Royal Family and transition to an independent life, a decision later dubbed the “Megxit.” They finalized their remaining duties, and on March 31 that same year, they were officially relieved of their royal duties.
In a 2023 interview with ITV, the Sussexes said their decision was partly due to media scrutiny, especially for Meghan, who revealed that she was suffering from depression and had suicidal thoughts. Prince Harry said he was “trapped within the system” and didn’t want a repeat of the past, referring to Princess Diana’s death. “I don’t want history to repeat itself. I do not want to be a single dad. And I certainly don’t want my children to have a life without a mother or father,” he said.