Prince Harry has opened up about the happiness he finds in watching his children grow up together, admitting that seeing Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet enjoying each other’s company in nature fills his heart with joy.
The Duke of Sussex became visibly emotional while discussing a photograph of his seven-year-old son and five-year-old daughter during an interview with American neuroscientist Dr Mary-Frances O’Connor.
His comments come amid his continued estrangement from his elder brother, Prince William, with whom he has reportedly not spoken since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
Harry Opens Up About Emotional Photograph of His Children
The photograph showed Archie and Lilibet walking barefoot along a beach. Meghan Markle shared the image on Instagram in May to celebrate Archie’s seventh birthday.
Harry revealed that he had taken the photograph shortly before his son’s birthday, explaining how much it meant to see his children sharing a peaceful moment together.
Watching the siblings, he said, brought him immense happiness, particularly seeing the pair “at peace with each other in nature”.
The Duke also expressed his delight at how Archie and Lilibet were developing, describing them as healthy, beautiful, amusing and very funny children.
His reflections offered a glimpse into the family life he shares with Meghan and their children, with Harry speaking candidly about the emotional demands and rewards of becoming a parent.
Duke Describes Fatherhood as an Emotional Rollercoaster
Harry admitted that he had underestimated how difficult fatherhood would be before becoming a parent.
“Becoming a father is an emotional rollercoaster,” he said.
“I wish I’d known how hard being a father was going to be. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Asked what advice he would give his younger self about raising children, the Duke said he would encourage himself to hold on tightly because the experience would be “one hell of a ride”.
The comments featured in a video for the American education platform MasterClass, titled Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, as reported by Hello! magazine.
During the same discussion, Harry reflected on his personal struggles following his departure from royal duties and his decision to leave Britain with Meghan in 2020.
Harry Reveals Depression After Leaving Royal Life
The Duke disclosed that he experienced depression and felt “useless” shortly after he and Meghan stepped away from their official royal roles.
He explained that the couple initially moved to Canada to escape the pressures surrounding them and give themselves time to think.
“Within two or three days of leaving that stressful environment, I experienced an adrenaline crash unlike anything I’d ever felt before,” Harry said.
He described feeling as though his brain had become dependent on stress to function, adding that he struggled to carry out ordinary tasks around the house.
“It was as though I needed stress for my brain to function. I became useless around the house. I slipped into depression for about two weeks and felt like I couldn’t function without adrenaline,” he said.
Harry’s account came six years after the couple’s departure from royal life, a period that has seen them establish a home in California while raising Archie and Lilibet.
Prince Says Royal Duties Prevented Him From Grieving Diana
Harry also revisited the difficulties he experienced following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.
He said the expectations attached to his position within the Royal Family left him struggling to process his grief, despite having access to resources and support that many people might assume would make coping easier.
“You would think I had the best help in the world. I’m a prince, for God’s sake, but I was still grieving and didn’t have any place to put those feelings,” he said.
The Duke explained that he carried those emotions for approximately 15 or 20 years.
He also described experiencing panic attacks connected to royal engagements, saying that wearing formal clothing, including a shirt and tie, could leave him feeling as though he was being strangled or suffocated.
His remarks highlighted the emotional difficulties he associated with performing his official duties while attempting to deal with unresolved grief.
Harry Sets Ten-Day Limit on Time Away From His Family
The Duke said he now follows a personal rule designed to preserve his happiness and maintain a balance between his professional responsibilities and family life.
Harry revealed that he does not want to spend more than ten days away from Meghan and their children.
“The biggest factor for me is the energy, joy and happiness I get from being with my family, especially our children, and from being on the ground doing my work,” he said.
He added that maintaining this balance meant ensuring he did not spend more than ten days apart from his wife and children.
“It’s about balancing my work and sense of purpose with being a dad and a husband,” he explained.
Harry has previously discussed the personal work he undertook before becoming a father, including his efforts to address experiences from his past.
Duke Recalls Feeling Disconnected During Meghan’s Pregnancy
Speaking at a fatherhood event in Melbourne during the Sussexes’ visit to Australia in April, Harry admitted that he initially struggled to feel connected to the experience of pregnancy.
He acknowledged that Meghan was the one physically carrying their child, while he could only witness the process.
“Certainly I felt a disconnection because my wife was the one creating life, and I was there to witness it,” he said.
Harry explained that he initially questioned what practical contribution he could make during that period, believing his role had been limited while Meghan was pregnant.
He also recalled advice from his former UK therapist, who encouraged him to pay attention to his emotional state after the baby arrived.
Harry said he noticed that Archie sometimes began crying when he returned home from work while feeling stressed.
Reflecting on the experience, he described fatherhood as the most important and transformative role a man could take on.
Meghan Shares Video of Archie and Lilibet Exploring the Countryside
Meghan has also offered glimpses of the children’s lives through her social media accounts.
In a video shared on Instagram, the Duchess posted footage of Archie and Lilibet riding their scooters along a long country lane.
Both children wore colourful backpacks, with Archie carrying a blue one and Lilibet wearing pink.
Their black Labrador, Pula, accompanied them during the outing.
At one point, the children stopped to watch a large herd of deer gallop across their path just metres ahead of them.
The clip was set to The Temptations’ song My Girl.
The footage provided another look at the family’s outdoor activities as they settled into life in the English countryside.
Meghan Partners With Charity Supporting Single Mothers
Alongside sharing family updates, Meghan has announced a collaboration with Moms Offering More, a charity that supports single mothers experiencing economic hardship.
The Duchess became involved in the initiative through a limited-edition cream and chocolate-brown sweatshirt featuring the words “It’s the little things” embroidered on the back and sleeve.
The garment was priced at £76, equivalent to US$100, and was presented as a special edition supporting the organisation’s work.
Moms Offering More, which receives support from the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, helps provide single mothers with food security, childcare and financial assistance.
Its work also extends to supporting organisations that assist families across the United States and Canada.
The initiative is led by founder Kasondra Herrendorf-Cohen and supported by a collective of women known as the “MOM Army”.
Meghan shared photographs of herself wearing the sweatshirt, pairing it with a blue-and-white pinstripe shirt and a chunky silver ring.
In another image, she wore the garment with her Oura fitness-tracking ring.
She used the announcement to highlight the importance of practical support for parents and caregivers.
“Small acts of care can make a big difference for parents, for caregivers, for moms,” she wrote.
Marking International Day of the Girl, Meghan also referenced her philanthropic work through Archewell Philanthropies, including collaborations supporting families alongside Alliance of Moms and Alliance for Children’s Rights.
She added that the seemingly small acts of care highlighted by the initiative could contribute to broader support for families.
Meghan Announces Partnership With Malala Yousafzai
Meghan also marked International Day of the Girl by announcing a partnership with education campaigner Malala Yousafzai.
The Duchess revealed that all net profits from sales of her As Ever teas and jams would be donated to the Malala Fund for one day.
The announcement followed a meeting between the two women at Claridge’s in London, where they enjoyed afternoon tea.
Photographs shared on Instagram showed them smiling together in front of an assortment of cakes and holding hands.
Their joint statement emphasised the importance of education for girls and its role in empowering women.
“When we support the girls of today, we empower the women of tomorrow. Access to education is the key to unlocking this,” the statement read.
The message was signed by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Malala Yousafzai.
Sussexes Continue Charity Activities in the United Kingdom
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued undertaking charitable activities in Britain despite their departure from official royal duties.
Their recent appearances have included visits to London, with Meghan meeting Malala at Claridge’s.
The couple have also been scheduled to attend several charitable engagements in Nottingham, including visits to a community food project established in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Their planned activities include visits to the Himmah food bank, the Hubb Community Kitchen and Epic Partners, an organisation offering sports mentoring to children aged four to 18.
The Hubb Community Kitchen was established following the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, which claimed 72 lives.
Meghan has supported the project for several years and wrote the foreword to its 2018 cookbook, Together.
Despite their increasing presence in Britain, the Sussexes have yet to meet King Charles during their latest period of visits, while their relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales remains strained.
Sussexes Reportedly Making Separate Christmas Plans
Harry and Meghan are reportedly preparing to spend the festive period away from the wider Royal Family, with a source claiming the couple do not expect to receive an invitation to Sandringham.
A friend of the couple said spending Christmas with the Royal Family would be difficult given the current state of their relationships.
“They won’t be having Christmas with the Royal Family. How could that even work? They know it would be too awkward and too difficult,” the friend said.
The source added that the couple were not waiting for an invitation and would make their own arrangements for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
According to the friend, they would welcome Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, spending the holidays with them in the United Kingdom, although the final arrangements would depend on her wishes.
The source also said Harry had not yet seen his father, who was in Scotland, but suggested a meeting would eventually take place.
The couple are expected to spend the festive period with Ragland, who lives less than a two-hour drive from their home in Montecito, California.
