Finally, some redemption for Meghan Markle. It might be called Megxit, but Prince Harry wanted out of the royal family long before his wife ever entered the picture!
The Duke of Sussex made the bombshell revelation himself on Thursday after giving a keynote speech about mental health at the InterEdge Summit. Noting that his mom “died just before my 13th birthday,” he said per PA Media:
“I was like, ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role — wherever this is headed, I don’t like it.’ It killed my mum and I was very much against it, and I stuck my head in the sand for years and years.”
Oof. That’s so understandable. He was so young and the media attention was so chaotic. It’s such a natural reaction to the tragedy and his complex circumstances.
Related: Prince Harry Drops Surprising Parenting Confession
But he did eventually have a change of heart:
“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?”
His mom was also a big part of that shift:
“And also, what would my mum want me to do? And that really changed my own perspective.”
But the seed was planted well before Meghan joined his life, so while all the hate she was getting and her own mental health needs may have been a reason he severed ties with his family, it wasn’t the only reason!
During his 19-minute talk, the 41-year-old also revealed that, like many, he has felt “lost, betrayed, or completely powerless” throughout his life. He added:
“When I was invited to speak at this summit, I wasn’t sure whether I was expected to speak as someone who, despite everything, has their s**t together. Or as someone who, despite what it may look like, actually doesn’t have his s**t together. But I was struck by something quite simple — that while my experiences may be unusual, the feelings that come with them are not.”
He also opened up about the grief of losing his mom at such a young age:
“In my experience, loss is disorienting at any age. Grief does not disappear because we ignore it. Experiencing that as a kid while in a goldfish bowl under constant surveillance, yes, that will have its challenges. And without purpose, it can break you.”
The Spare author continued:
“There have been many times when I’ve felt overwhelmed. Times when I’ve felt lost, betrayed, or completely powerless. Times when the pressure – externally and internally — felt constant. And times when, despite everything going on, I still had to show up pretending everything was okay, so as not to let anyone down.”
Harry furthered:
“For many years I was numb to it, and perhaps that was easier then, but I also didn’t yet have the tools to deal with it.”
The dad of two also spoke about his time in the military, which taught him even more about resiliency. He’s been through so much. It couldn’t have been easy. But it’s so interesting to hear his honest thoughts about it all now!
What are your reactions to this revelation? Share them (below).
[Image via MEGA/WENN/Anwar Hussein]
