A looming thought lies behind Prince Harry‘s smiles since his mom’s passing.
The Duke of Sussex shared a peek into a major reason he decided to put the royal life behind him, dropping his position in office in 2020. After relocating to the US with his wife, Meghan Markle, the lovebirds have built a family and a life focused on their personal endeavors, completely separate from the monarchy.
Despite stepping back from his royal duties, Prince Harry continues to do charitable activities in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana. He has been vocal about his efforts to serve different communities around the globe, including during his current trip to Australia.
Prince Harry Was Left Scarred After His Mom’s Passing
Prince Harry has revealed a sentimental side of his reasons for parting ways with royal life. While attending the professional development InterEdge Summit in Melbourne as part of his Australian tour, the Duke of Sussex shared that his mother’s death changed his view of life in the royal family. Harry’s mom, Princess Diana, reportedly passed away in a car crash following a high-speed paparazzi chase in 1997, and this left a void in his heart.
Her death left the then almost 13-year-old Prince with the decision not to be a working royal. He shared that while he tried to fulfill his duties before finally putting that life behind him, he was left “lost, betrayed, or completely powerless.” Harry described that time of his life as feeling like he “stuck my head in the sand for years,” only blindly following instructions until one day he realized he did not have to.
Even though it took decades for the dad of two to actually take his stance, TMZ shares that he had made up his mind long ago. “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 explained before adding, “It killed my mum, and I was very much against it.”
The Sussexes Have Sought Other Ways To Help The Public
After deciding to ditch his royal duties, Harry went through stages of deep reflection, realizing he could use his platform and status to help others in his own way, and quickly embarked on that path. He, along with his wife, has dipped their hands into various humanitarian works helping people in several countries through their Archewell Foundation.
The couple has also been vocal about the dangers of social media for younger people. Meghan referenced these dangers in her speech at Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology. She noted how her every move has been subject to public scrutiny over the media, yet she refuses to let the online bullying affect her. “For now, ten years, every day for ten years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world,” Meghan stated before encouraging fans with her personal message, “I’m still here.”
The couple has invested significant time in supporting organizations and raising awareness and advocacy on matters they deem important. Besides these, the lovebirds offered a glimpse into their lives in their 2022 documentary “Harry & Meghan.” Harry published his memoir in 2023, and Meghan started a lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Harry & Meghan Marked A Special Moment During Their Australian Trip
Harry and Meghan seem to be drawing a great deal of inspiration from the late Princess Diana. The ousted royals’ first stop after landing in Australia was a hospital, which Harry’s mom visited nearly forty years ago. The parents of two walked hand in hand into the Royal Children’s Hospital after landing in Melbourne early on Tuesday morning.
They spent time with the patients, chatting and taking selfies amid brief meet-and-greets with healthcare providers. Princess Diana and now-King Charles made similar moves when they visited the hospital in October 1985. The Blast reported in an earlier release that many faces lit up with smiles when they saw the couple at the hospital.
Professor Christine Kilpatrick AO (Officer of the Order of Australia), who serves as Board Chair of The Royal Children’s Hospital, even spoke to news outlets, sharing that the crowds were delighted with the couple’s visit. This is not the first time that Meghan and Harry have brought Princess Diana’s memory to life with their humanitarian endeavors. Last year, Prince Harry visited Angola to support Halo Trust’s landmine-clearing work, which his mother had also done almost three decades earlier.
Royal Duties Behind, Fatherhood Ahead
While in Australia, Harry not only discussed the mental process he went through to leave the royal life, but also noted the transition into his role as a father. Just like every aspect of life, parenting comes with its challenges, and the Duke of Sussex took time to ensure he was adequately prepared for fatherhood.
At a November event in Melbourne, Harry disclosed that he turned to therapy to help him get ready for his journey to becoming a dad to his kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. As reported by The Blast, the father of two disclosed that he wanted to be the best version of himself for his children. “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,” he shared before sharing words of encouragement to other fathers.
Harry assured dads and soon-to-be dads that fatherhood brings about life changes and a roller-coaster of emotions, but they should rest assured that they are not alone. Speaking further, he noted that he hopes more men become willing to open up and talk confidently about their feelings.
Prince Harry Is Reportedly On A Leash In Australia
Whispers that Meghan set strict ground rules for her husband are making waves and raising eyebrows in the media. One of the alleged rules is that Harry is not allowed to have any unintentional contact with his former love interests. An anonymous source shared that “Meghan’s drawn a hard line on making sure there are no ‘accidental run-ins’ with [Harry’s] rumored Aussie exes, including Natalie Imbruglia.” Imbruglia is a singer who was rumored to have dated Harry years ago.
The source also alleged that Meghan has set a curfew for Harry, which is non-negotiable. They claimed that the “Suits” actress has her husband on these rules because she feels he might act out on nights out. They also noted that the Duke is not one to hold his own when drinks are flowing, and Meghan does not want to take any chances.
The Blast detailed that while these alleged ground rules are strictly to be followed, the former Hollywood star gave her husband some freedom to meet up with friends as long as it does not attract drama and he sticks to “a glass or two of wine.”