Prince Harry confesses to falling into depression after 'Megxit'

The Duke of Sussex, who has returned to the United Kingdom after living for a few years in the United States, has confessed that he suffered from depression following his departure from the British Royal Family.

It was early 2020 when Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, made their departure from the British Royal Family official. The couple—who have retained the title of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, though without any duties or responsibilities within the institution—moved to Canada and the United States, hoping to begin a new, freer life, unencumbered by the Crown. What they did not anticipate was that this farewell would lead not only to a physical separation but an emotional one as well. Harry and his wife found themselves entirely on their own, with no relationship with any other members of the family and, furthermore, no royal allowance.

Royal experts are certain that neither Harry nor Meghan ever imagined their decision would result in such drastic measures. They are convinced that the couple never foresaw these consequences when they announced they would pursue their own independent endeavors—focusing on causes that mattered to them personally. However, being a royal could not be a part-time role; the tension reached a breaking point, and that is when the couple’s true decline began. Moreover, while they may have expected to earn significantly more money on their own through private business ventures outside the palace, things—and their finances—did not turn out as they had intended.

Prince Harry’s health at risk

There is no doubt that the couple’s departure had dire consequences for their finances and their immediate family (their children, Archie and Lilibet, have been unable to play with or share in significant moments alongside their cousins); however, Harry has also confessed that the entire experience took a heavy toll on his mental health. Just a few days ago, the younger son of Charles III spoke openly about one of the most difficult periods of his life: the time surrounding his family’s relocation. In a highly personal new 'MasterClass' (a platform where users can watch video lessons taught by celebrities)—set to be released on October 8—the Duke of Sussex revealed that he experienced an "adrenaline crash" just days after arriving in Canada in late 2019. It was a drastic shift following years spent living in what he describes as a "stressful environment."

A weeks-long depression

"Being in Canada, away from the stressful environment where my body was presumably running on high levels of adrenaline, I experienced a drop in this hormone within two or three days—something I had never encountered before. It was as if I needed the stress to function and be okay; without it, I became useless at home. In fact, I fell into a depression for about two weeks, feeling as though I couldn't function without that stress," the prince shared.

Furthermore, in the video, Harry recalls a personal rule he had always followed: never to be away from his family for more than 10 days. After the move, he was unable to uphold this, which led to a profound sense of sadness—a feeling he previously addressed in his memoir, *Spare*. That book also sparked a major conflict, as it revealed intimate details regarding the British royal family.

Grieving the death of Diana

In this footage—which has already been recorded and will soon be released in full—Harry also reflects on how he navigated the pain of his mother’s death. He discusses the challenges he faced in processing that loss in the years following the accident—a tragedy that occurred when he was just 12 years old. "In my twenties, I went to war twice, thinking I could escape my feelings," the Duke recalled, referring to his deployments to Afghanistan as a member of the British Army. "But that’s not what happened. I spent a long time being emotionally numb—largely because I felt disloyal and guilty at the prospect of being happy or experiencing joy without her," he explained. "I felt I had to remain sad and emotionally shut down to show her that I missed her," added Markle’s husband.

Prince Harry didn’t cry for 20 years

In the years following the death of the Princess of Wales, Harry experienced a profound emotional blockage. As he has recounted, William’s younger brother sought the help of a therapist, who assisted him in unlocking memories of Diana in a straightforward way. The Duke of Sussex has revealed that he did not cry for nearly 20 years after her passing. Furthermore, his therapist suggested that he seek out his mother’s perfume to help unlock his memories—a step that changed everything.