Prince Harry shared that he had unresolved issues from his past that he needed to work through before starting a family with his wife, Meghan Markle.
The Duke of Sussex spoke candidly about fatherhood and his journey toward becoming a parent during a Movember event in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday, according to People.
“From a therapy perspective, you want to be the best version of yourself for your children,” Harry, 41, explained. “I knew I had things from my past that I needed to address so I could move forward and, in a way, clear that baggage before becoming a parent.”
Prince Harry, pictured speaking in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday, revealed he had unresolved issues from his past that he needed to address before welcoming his children, Archie and Lilibet, with Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry opened up about his challenges adjusting to fatherhood during a Movember event in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday.
After he and Meghan Markle welcomed their son, Prince Archie, in May 2019, Harry recalled that his therapist had advised him to be mindful of his emotions once the baby arrived.
The royal admitted he initially felt a sense of “disconnection” following Archie’s birth, explaining that Markle, 44, “was the one creating life,” while he felt he was simply “there to witness it.”
He went on to reassure other fathers in the audience that they are “not alone” in facing similar emotions and challenges as they adjust to parenthood.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, pictured with their two children, welcomed Prince Archie in May 2019 and Princess Lilibet in June 2021.
“To the dads and soon-to-be dads: yes, it’s messy,” Harry said. “You’ll have a rollercoaster of emotions — and don’t judge yourself.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex married in May 2018, going on to grow their family with the births of Archie and Lilibet in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
Harry also shared that he hopes to have open, honest conversations with his children that “never existed” between him and his own parents, King Charles III and the late Princess Diana.
The duke remains estranged from Charles, 77, amid ongoing tensions following his and Markle’s decision to step back from their roles as working royals in 2020.
Prince Harry, seen with his family in a social media photo, also acknowledged that he wants to have conversations with his children that “never existed” between him and his own parents.
Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997, when Harry was just 12 years old.
“With the way the world is today, the children we raise need to be an upgrade,” Harry said, while clarifying that he does not view himself as “an upgrade” of his father or his children as an upgrade of him.
A representative for the duke did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Elsewhere during the event, the author of Spare praised Movember, the global charity founded in Melbourne in 2003.
Prince Harry and King Charles III, seen together in 2019, remain estranged following Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from their roles as working royals in 2020.
Movember focuses on men’s health, raising awareness for issues including prostate and testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention, according to the charity’s website.
Harry and Markle recently arrived in Australia for what has been described as a “faux-royal tour” on Tuesday.
During the trip, they visited Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital and met with veterans at the Australian National Veterans’ Art Museum. Markle also made a guest appearance on “MasterChef Australia.”
