An impending thought lies behind Prince Harrythe smiles since the death of his mother.
The Duke of Sussex has given insight into one of the main reasons he decided to leave royal life behind, giving up his post in 2020. After moving to the United States with his wife, Meghan Markle, the lovebirds built a family and a life focused on their personal endeavors, completely separate from the monarchy.
Despite stepping back from royal duties, Prince Harry continues to carry out charitable activities in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana. He expressed his efforts to serve different communities around the world, including during his current trip to Australia.
Prince Harry was scarred after his mother’s deathg
Prince Harry has revealed a sentimental side to his reasons for parting ways with royal life. While attending the InterEdge Professional Development Summit in Melbourne as part of his Australian tour, the Duke of Sussex shared that his mother’s death changed his outlook on life within the royal family. Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, reportedly died in a car crash following a high-speed chase with paparazzi in 1997, which left a hole in her 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 helpless.” Harry described this period of his life as feeling like he had “put his head in the sand for years”, blindly following instructions until one day he realized he didn’t have to.
Although it took decades for the father of two to truly take a stand, TMZ shares that he had made his decision a long time ago. “After my mother died right before my 13th birthday, I was like, ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role, wherever it goes, I don’t like it.'” Harry explained before adding, “It killed my mother and I was totally against it.”
The Sussexes looked for other ways to help the public
After deciding to give up his royal duties, Harry went through stages of deep reflection, realizing that he could use his platform and status to help others in his own way, and quickly embarked on that path. He and his wife have been involved in various humanitarian works helping people in several countries through their Archewell Foundation.
The couple also spoke about the dangers of social media for young people. Meghan referenced these dangers in her speech at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. She has highlighted how her every move has been subject to public media scrutiny, but she refuses to let online harassment affect her. “For ten years, every day for ten years, I was bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world,” Meghan said before encouraging fans with her personal message: “I’m still here.”
The couple has invested a lot of time supporting organizations and raising awareness and advocacy on issues they believe are important. On top of that, the lovebirds offered a glimpse into their lives in their 2022 documentary “Harry & Meghan.” Harry published his memoirs in 2023 and Meghan launched a lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Harry and Meghan marked a special moment during their trip to Australia
Harry and Meghan seem to take a lot of inspiration from the late Princess Diana. The royals’ first stop after arriving in Australia was a hospital that Harry’s mother visited almost forty years ago. The parents of two walked hand-in-hand to the Royal Children’s Hospital after landing in Melbourne early Tuesday morning.
They spent time with patients, chatting and taking selfies during brief encounters with health care 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 is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Children’s Hospital, even spoke to the media, sharing that the crowd was delighted with the couple’s visit. This isn’t the first time Meghan and Harry have brought Princess Diana’s memory to life through their humanitarian efforts. Last year, Prince Harry visited Angola to support the Halo Trust’s mine clearance work, which his mother had also carried out almost three decades earlier.
Royal duties behind, paternity in front
In Australia, Harry not only discussed the mental process he went through in leaving royal life, but also noted the transition into his role as a father. Like all aspects of life, parenting has its challenges, and the Duke of Sussex took the time to ensure he was properly prepared for fatherhood.
At a November event in Melbourne, Harry revealed he had turned to therapy to help him prepare to become a dad to his children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. As The Blast reports, the father of two revealed that he wants to be the best version of himself for his children. “I knew I had things from this past that I needed to face and therefore prepare to cleanse myself of the past,” he explained before sharing words of encouragement with other fathers.
Harry assured dads and dads-to-be that fatherhood brings life changes and a rollercoaster of emotions, but they should rest assured that they are not alone. Speaking further, he noted that he hopes more men will be willing to open up and talk confidently about their feelings.
Prince Harry reportedly kept on a leash in Australia
Rumors 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 involuntary contact with his former love interests. An anonymous source shared that “Meghan has set a hard line to ensure there are no ‘accidental encounters’ with [Harry’s] rumored to be Australian exes, including Natalie Imbruglia. Imbruglia is a singer who was rumored to have dated Harry years ago.
The source also alleged that Meghan had set a curfew for Harry, which is non-negotiable. They claimed that the “Suits” actress imposes these rules on her husband because she thinks he might behave on a night out. They also noted that the Duke isn’t one to defend himself when the drinks are flowing and Meghan doesn’t want to take any chances.
The Blast detailed that while these so-called ground rules must be strictly followed, the former Hollywood star has given her husband some freedom to meet up with friends as long as it doesn’t attract drama and he sticks to “a glass or two of wine.”