Prince Harry has shared a deeply personal and harrowing account of the lack of support he received from the royal family during his struggles with mental health. In his 2023 Netflix documentary, Heart of Invictus, the Duke of Sussex opens up about the profound impact of losing his mother, Princess Diana, at a young age, and the psychological toll of his military service in Afghanistan.
In a candid moment, Harry reveals the devastating aftermath of his mother’s passing, saying he didn’t have the necessary support structure or network to help him cope. He claims that within the family, there was no system in place to identify and address his mental health struggles.
Hello! reports that Harry shared a raw and emotional moment, recalling his realization of the importance of seeking professional help. He described how he ended up in the fetal position, wishing he had dealt with his issues sooner.
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Harry emphasized the urgent need for better mental health support, particularly for those in similar situations, saying: “Unfortunately, like me, the first time you really consider therapy is when you’re lying on the floor in the fetal position, probably wishing that you’d dealt with some of this stuff previously. And that’s what I really want to change,” reports the Mirror.
The Duke of Sussex has opened up about his mental health struggles, especially after his army tour, stating: “After returning from Afghanistan in 2012, there was an unravelling, with triggers from my childhood surfacing,” and pointing out the deep-seated issues stemming from his mother’s untimely death: “Losing my mum at such a young age caused trauma that was never addressed. I suppressed those feelings and, like many young people, never really spoke about them. But when it all came fizzing out, I was overwhelmed, feeling everything rather than being numb.”
In addition to this personal journey, the camera crew documents Harry and Meghan during the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands for a series where Harry serves as executive producer. This is part of a lucrative Netflix deal, which followed their earlier documentary.
The film highlights participants’ inspiring stories and steadfast resilience, shedding light on the extensive preparations for the Invictus Gamesa project dear to Harry’s heart since its inception in 2014. This year marks the 10th anniversary since the games began.