Prince Harry has delivered an emotional speech revealing that he once wanted to walk away from royal life following the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
The Duke of Sussex, now 41, reflected on the profound impact her passing had on him as a young boy growing up in the public eye.
“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 said.
He went on to describe his deep resentment toward royal duties at the time, adding, “It killed my mum, and I was very much against it, and I stuck my head in the sand for years and years.”
The candid remarks highlight the emotional toll Diana’s death took on the young prince, who has long spoken about the challenges of grief and life under intense media scrutiny.
Despite his early doubts, Harry explained that his perspective eventually changed as he began to recognize the opportunities that came with his platform.
“Eventually I realized – well, hang on, if there was somebody else in this position, how would they be making the most of this platform and this ability and the resources that come with it to make a difference in the world?” he said.
He concluded with a heartfelt tribute to his late mother, adding, “And also, what would my mum want me to do? And that really changed my own perspective.”
