Prince Harry’s journey with mental health didn’t begin when he stepped away from royal duties or moved to California—it started much earlier.
Long before the cameras followed every step he took with Meghan Markle, there were signs that he was quietly wrestling with his own emotional well-being.
Now living in the U.S., Harry has become an outspoken advocate for mental wellness, challenging traditional British attitudes and pushing for a more open and honest conversation about emotional struggles—both his own and those of others.
From ‘Mental Health’ to ‘Mental Fitness’
Since relocating to California, Harry has done more than just speak up—he’s been actively reframing how we talk about mental well-being.
At a New York conference last year, he argued that the term mental health should be replaced with mental fitness—something more empowering and proactive.
He emphasized that mental health affects everyone, regardless of age or background.
“It impacts all of us—from the youngest to the oldest,” he said.
His message was clear: mental fitness should be treated as essential, not optional.
Comparing Cultures and Breaking the Stigma
Harry hasn’t shied away from comparing the cultural differences between the UK and the US when it comes to seeking help.
In 2022, he pointed out how Britons often hesitate to go to therapy, while in America, it’s more openly encouraged.
He even praised what he called the “‘I’ll get my therapist to call your therapist’ attitude” that he’s encountered in the U.S.—a far cry from the stigma he believes still surrounds therapy in the UK.
Meghan Helped Him See the Signs
A key figure in Harry’s mental health journey has been Meghan.
According to the Prince, she recognized early in their relationship that he needed help.
As far back as 2016, she encouraged him to see a therapist.
Harry has since opened up more than ever, sharing insights about his mental health struggles, therapy sessions, and how much progress he’s made since leaving the royal spotlight.
Royal Fallout and Family Friction
Despite his good intentions, some of Harry’s mental health revelations haven’t gone over well with his family.
During a 2021 interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, he suggested that his father, Prince Charles, passed down emotional wounds inherited from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
“He’s treating me the way he was treated,” Harry said, pointing to a cycle of generational pain that he was determined to break by raising his own kids differently in America.
The Queen’s Traditional Stiff Upper Lip
Not everyone in the royal family shared Harry’s approach to mental health.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward revealed that Queen Elizabeth II preferred to compartmentalize rather than confront emotional issues.
“She did what she always did—put duty first,” Seward wrote in My Mother And I.
As far as Harry’s struggles were concerned, Seward claims the Queen thought he wouldn’t listen to anyone but Meghan anyway.
She also reportedly believed Prince Charles had done the best he could after his split from Princess Diana, particularly in raising both William and Harry through difficult circumstances.
Meghan’s Own Mental Health Crisis
Meghan has also opened up about her own deeply painful experiences.
In her now-famous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she revealed that royal life pushed her to the edge, especially when she was five months pregnant.
She recalled feeling suicidal and said she was told she couldn’t seek help because it would reflect badly on “the institution.”
She said she told Harry, “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
Despite the severity of the situation, they had to attend a public event at the Royal Albert Hall that night—an experience Meghan said still haunts her.
Therapy Started Before Meghan—Thanks to Cressida
Interestingly, Meghan wasn’t the first person to suggest Harry seek therapy.
According to Tina Brown’s The Palace Papers, Harry’s ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas noticed concerning signs during their relationship and encouraged him to get professional help.
She was reportedly alarmed by what Brown described as his “explosive temperament,” and eventually persuaded him to begin therapy.
Inside Harry’s Secret Sessions with a Special Therapist
Harry’s first significant therapeutic support came from Julia Samuel, a friend of Princess Diana and a respected bereavement counselor.
She was known for her work with the NHS—but also had a unique background advising MI6.
This connection, Brown notes, made her an ideal confidante—someone who understood the pressure of living with a public image while managing a private life.
That kind of discretion was essential for Harry, whose entire life had been lived under scrutiny.
The Real Impact of Diana’s Death
Through therapy, Harry was finally able to confront the trauma he had buried since Diana’s death when he was just 12.
He admitted to using denial and destructive behavior as coping mechanisms—what he called “champagne hooliganism” and emotional avoidance.
Therapy helped him connect those behaviors to the pain of losing his mother and begin to heal in a way he’d never attempted before.
One Tense Moment That Changed Everything
One of the most telling signs that Harry needed help, according to Brown, came on New Year’s Day at a pub near Oxford.
When an elderly man politely asked for a photo, Harry reportedly lashed out and stormed off—an outburst that left his girlfriend and others stunned.
That moment, among others, is what pushed Cressida to convince him to seek therapy.
And while their relationship didn’t last, it’s clear her intervention played a major role in helping Harry begin his mental health journey.
A Prince Who Chose Healing Over Tradition
Whether it’s calling out outdated attitudes or challenging family dynamics, Prince Harry has become a leading voice in mental health advocacy.
He’s not perfect, and his choices have certainly sparked tension, but one thing is undeniable—he’s chosen to put healing first.
From the emotional scars of childhood to the pressures of royal life, Harry’s story is not just about privilege.
It’s about pain, change, and the strength to seek help even when the world is watching.
Prince Harry’s journey with mental health didn’t begin when he stepped away from royal duties or moved to California—it started much earlier.
Long before the cameras followed every step he took with Meghan Markle, there were signs that he was quietly wrestling with his own emotional well-being.
Now living in the U.S., Harry has become an outspoken advocate for mental wellness, challenging traditional British attitudes and pushing for a more open and honest conversation about emotional struggles—both his own and those of others.
From ‘Mental Health’ to ‘Mental Fitness’
Since relocating to California, Harry has done more than just speak up—he’s been actively reframing how we talk about mental well-being.
At a New York conference last year, he argued that the term mental health should be replaced with mental fitness—something more empowering and proactive.
He emphasized that mental health affects everyone, regardless of age or background.
“It impacts all of us—from the youngest to the oldest,” he said.
His message was clear: mental fitness should be treated as essential, not optional.
Comparing Cultures and Breaking the Stigma
Harry hasn’t shied away from comparing the cultural differences between the UK and the US when it comes to seeking help.
In 2022, he pointed out how Britons often hesitate to go to therapy, while in America, it’s more openly encouraged.
He even praised what he called the “‘I’ll get my therapist to call your therapist’ attitude” that he’s encountered in the U.S.—a far cry from the stigma he believes still surrounds therapy in the UK.
Meghan Helped Him See the Signs
A key figure in Harry’s mental health journey has been Meghan.
According to the Prince, she recognized early in their relationship that he needed help.
As far back as 2016, she encouraged him to see a therapist.
Harry has since opened up more than ever, sharing insights about his mental health struggles, therapy sessions, and how much progress he’s made since leaving the royal spotlight.
Royal Fallout and Family Friction
Despite his good intentions, some of Harry’s mental health revelations haven’t gone over well with his family.
During a 2021 interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, he suggested that his father, Prince Charles, passed down emotional wounds inherited from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
“He’s treating me the way he was treated,” Harry said, pointing to a cycle of generational pain that he was determined to break by raising his own kids differently in America.
The Queen’s Traditional Stiff Upper Lip
Not everyone in the royal family shared Harry’s approach to mental health.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward revealed that Queen Elizabeth II preferred to compartmentalize rather than confront emotional issues.
“She did what she always did—put duty first,” Seward wrote in My Mother And I.
As far as Harry’s struggles were concerned, Seward claims the Queen thought he wouldn’t listen to anyone but Meghan anyway.
She also reportedly believed Prince Charles had done the best he could after his split from Princess Diana, particularly in raising both William and Harry through difficult circumstances.
Meghan’s Own Mental Health Crisis
Meghan has also opened up about her own deeply painful experiences.
In her now-famous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she revealed that royal life pushed her to the edge, especially when she was five months pregnant.
She recalled feeling suicidal and said she was told she couldn’t seek help because it would reflect badly on “the institution.”
She said she told Harry, “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
Despite the severity of the situation, they had to attend a public event at the Royal Albert Hall that night—an experience Meghan said still haunts her.
Therapy Started Before Meghan—Thanks to Cressida
Interestingly, Meghan wasn’t the first person to suggest Harry seek therapy.
According to Tina Brown’s The Palace Papers, Harry’s ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas noticed concerning signs during their relationship and encouraged him to get professional help.
She was reportedly alarmed by what Brown described as his “explosive temperament,” and eventually persuaded him to begin therapy.
Inside Harry’s Secret Sessions with a Special Therapist
Harry’s first significant therapeutic support came from Julia Samuel, a friend of Princess Diana and a respected bereavement counselor.
She was known for her work with the NHS—but also had a unique background advising MI6.
This connection, Brown notes, made her an ideal confidante—someone who understood the pressure of living with a public image while managing a private life.
That kind of discretion was essential for Harry, whose entire life had been lived under scrutiny.
The Real Impact of Diana’s Death
Through therapy, Harry was finally able to confront the trauma he had buried since Diana’s death when he was just 12.
He admitted to using denial and destructive behavior as coping mechanisms—what he called “champagne hooliganism” and emotional avoidance.
Therapy helped him connect those behaviors to the pain of losing his mother and begin to heal in a way he’d never attempted before.
One Tense Moment That Changed Everything
One of the most telling signs that Harry needed help, according to Brown, came on New Year’s Day at a pub near Oxford.
When an elderly man politely asked for a photo, Harry reportedly lashed out and stormed off—an outburst that left his girlfriend and others stunned.
That moment, among others, is what pushed Cressida to convince him to seek therapy.
And while their relationship didn’t last, it’s clear her intervention played a major role in helping Harry begin his mental health journey.
A Prince Who Chose Healing Over Tradition
Whether it’s calling out outdated attitudes or challenging family dynamics, Prince Harry has become a leading voice in mental health advocacy.
He’s not perfect, and his choices have certainly sparked tension, but one thing is undeniable—he’s chosen to put healing first.
From the emotional scars of childhood to the pressures of royal life, Harry’s story is not just about privilege.
It’s about pain, change, and the strength to seek help even when the world is watching.