dailyloe.com – Prince Harry said he did not want to be a royal after his mother’s death. He made the remarks during a keynote speech in Melbourne, Australia. The Duke of Sussex spoke at the InterEdge Summit on workplace mental health on Thursday. His wife, Meghan Markle, was also present at the leadership event.
Harry addressed his experience with mental health and grief. He spoke for about twenty minutes to the audience. The prince discussed points in his life when he rejected his royal duties. He specifically referenced the period after Princess Diana died.
“I was like, ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role’,” Harry told the audience. He said he felt that way about wherever his life was headed. Princess Diana died when Prince Harry was twelve years old. Her death profoundly impacted his view of his royal identity.
“When I was invited to speak at this summit, I wasn’t sure,” Harry said. He questioned whether to speak as someone who has their life together. Alternatively, he considered speaking as someone who does not. He noted his experiences may be unusual but the feelings are not.
“In my experience, loss is disorienting at any age,” the prince stated. He emphasized that grief does not disappear if it is ignored. He experienced this grief as a child living in a public ‘goldfish bowl’. That life under constant surveillance presented significant challenges.
“Without purpose, it can break you,” Harry continued about the experience. He said there have been many times when he felt overwhelmed. He described feeling lost, betrayed, or completely powerless on numerous occasions. The pressure felt constant both from external and internal sources.
Harry also spoke about times when he had to pretend everything was okay. He felt he had to show up despite everything going on. This was so he would not let anyone down. The prince’s candid speech focused on the personal impact of his public life.[]
Source: Global News
