Britain’s Prince Harry has revealed that he experienced depression for about two weeks in 2019 while he and his wife, Meghan Markle, were considering stepping away from their royal duties.
The Duke of Sussex shared the experience during a videocast discussing grief and emotional resilience, explaining how years of emotional struggles and the pressure surrounding his royal life affected his mental health.
Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, has previously spoken publicly about his mental health challenges, particularly the lasting impact of losing his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash when he was 12.
Reflecting on his experience with grief, Harry said he had spent years feeling emotionally disconnected from happiness.
“I’d spent so long emotionally numb to a large extent because nobody told me joy was still allowed,” he said during the Masterclass videocast titled Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss.
Prince Harry Opens Up About Depression in Canada
Harry also recalled a difficult period in 2019 when tensions between him and other members of the British royal family were increasing.
During that time, he and Meghan travelled to Canada for a six-week break to reflect on their future and consider their next steps away from the pressures of royal life.
Harry said the change of environment initially brought an unexpected physical and emotional reaction as he stepped away from the stress he had become accustomed to.
“Being in Canada, away from the stressful environment where presumably my body was just pumped full of adrenaline, within two or three days, I experienced this adrenaline crash, something that I’d never experienced before,” he explained.
He said the sudden change affected his ability to function normally, leaving him struggling with everyday activities.
“It was as if I needed stress in order to get the adrenaline to make my brain function because I became useless around the house,” Harry said.
He added: “I actually slipped into depression for about two weeks and I felt like I couldn’t function without adrenaline.”
Harry and Meghan Eventually Stepped Away From Royal Duties
The couple’s trip to Canada came at a time when their relationship with the royal family was under growing strain.
After returning to Britain several weeks later, Harry and Meghan announced that they would step back from their roles as working members of the royal family.
Their decision marked a major turning point in their lives, eventually leading them to establish a new home in California, where they spent several years with their children.
The couple have since pursued independent projects and public engagements outside the traditional structure of the British monarchy.
Mental Health Remains Important to Prince Harry
Harry’s latest comments highlight the emotional difficulties he experienced during a period of significant personal and family change.
His mother’s death has remained a central part of his reflections on grief and mental health. Over the years, he has spoken about the challenges of processing the loss and how it shaped his emotional wellbeing.
Campaigning to improve mental health awareness is also one of the issues Harry continues to share with his older brother, Prince William, who is first in line to the British throne.
However, the brothers have remained estranged, with their relationship deteriorating after Harry publicly criticised members of the royal family in interviews and his memoir.
Harry’s latest account offers further insight into the personal struggles he faced before leaving royal duties and the emotional toll of navigating grief, stress and uncertainty about his future.
