Prince Harry Opens Up About Depression and Grief in New Masterclass

The Duke of Sussex has disclosed that he experienced a period of depression shortly after moving to Canada in 2019, describing a sudden emotional collapse that followed years of living under intense pressure. In a newly released online masterclass focused on coping with grief, Prince Harry explained that the transition away from the UK—initially intended to give him and his family "some space"—triggered a physical and psychological crash he had never encountered before.

Harry recalled that within just a few days of arriving in Canada, his body reacted to the abrupt removal of constant stress. He described how his system had apparently been running on adrenaline for an extended period, leaving him unable to function normally once that stimulus disappeared. According to the duke, the experience left him feeling useless at home and unable to complete everyday tasks, a stark contrast to the high-pressure environment he had left behind.

The duke went on to say that he "slipped into depression for about two weeks" during this time, explaining that he had come to rely on stress as a mechanism to keep his brain working. He noted that the adrenaline crash was unlike anything he had felt before, and that he struggled to understand how to operate without the constant flow of tension that had previously driven him.

The revelations form part of a paid online masterclass on dealing with grief, in which Harry also reflected on the long-term emotional consequences of losing his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, when he was just 12 years old. He spoke about spending years feeling emotionally numb, a state he linked to a deep sense of disloyalty and guilt at the prospect of experiencing happiness without her.

Harry explained that he believed he had to remain sad and emotionally shut down in order to prove to his mother that he missed her. That mindset, he said, persisted for a large part of his life. He described how he carried that burden into his twenties, when he served two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a member of the British Army, hoping that the intensity of war might help him escape or outrun his unresolved feelings.

Instead, the duke acknowledged that his plan did not work. He said he had spent so long being emotionally numb that he lost touch with his own capacity for joy. The pattern only began to shift, he revealed, when a therapist suggested an unusual but powerful exercise: spraying his mother's perfume. That act, he said, helped "unlock everything" and led him to a realisation that Diana simply wanted him to be happy.

Harry also shared that after crying at his mother's funeral, he did not cry again for nearly two decades. Multiple news outlets reported this detail from the masterclass, which underscores the depth of the emotional suppression he carried through adolescence and adulthood. The duke's account highlights how unresolved grief can manifest not only as sadness but also as a prolonged inability to connect with positive emotions.

The online class also featured contributions from Mary-Frances O'Connor, a neuroscientist and professor at the University of Arizona. O'Connor explained that the human brain does not immediately register a loved one as gone, but rather as lost. She noted that the brain will continue searching for that person until it is taught otherwise, and that people often still expect the deceased to walk through the door. Her insights provide a scientific framework for understanding the kind of prolonged grief Harry has described.

Harry's decision to speak openly about his mental health is consistent with earlier comments from both him and his brother, the Prince of Wales. The two siblings have previously discussed their struggles, particularly around the death of their mother, and both have been involved with mental health charities. Their willingness to share personal experiences has contributed to broader public conversations about grief, trauma, and emotional wellbeing.

The masterclass was filmed in California over the summer after Harry was approached about appearing in the programme last year, according to People magazine. The timing of the release comes as Harry, his wife Meghan, and their two children have returned to the UK after six years in the United States. The couple announced the move unexpectedly last month, and they are now thought to be living in the Cotswolds.

In the video, Harry also revealed that he maintains a personal rule of never being away from his family for more than 10 days. That detail offers a glimpse into how his priorities have shifted over the years, particularly as a husband and father of two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. His emphasis on family presence appears to reflect lessons learned from his own childhood experiences and his long journey toward emotional healing.

The duke's reflections come nearly three decades after Diana's death and more than five years after he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties to build a new life in California. His account of depression and emotional numbness adds another layer to the public understanding of the pressures that surrounded the royal exit, which has been the subject of intense media scrutiny and family tension.

By discussing both his lowest moments and the therapeutic techniques that helped him, Harry continues to frame mental health as a subject worthy of open discussion. His comments may resonate with others who have experienced grief that lingers far longer than expected, or who have felt trapped in emotional numbness as a way of coping with loss. The masterclass ultimately presents his story not as a singular celebrity confession, but as a case study in the difficult, non-linear work of healing.