Harry says he 'slipped into depression' after leaving UK for Canada

The Duke of Sussex has openly shared that after relocating to Canada in 2019, in preparation for his eventual move to the United States, he experienced a period of depression lasting roughly two weeks. Prince Harry explained that his initial departure from the UK was motivated by a need to “get some space.” During this challenging time, he revealed that he felt “emotionally numb” following the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, struggling with feelings of disloyalty and guilt tied to experiencing happiness without her.

In a candid conversation with a neuroscientist featured in a video learning platform session, Prince Harry detailed his mental health journey. He described how, once away from the high-pressure environment of his life in the UK, his body suffered a significant “adrenaline crash” within a few days, something unfamiliar to him before. He said, “It was as if I needed stress in order to get the adrenaline to make my brain function because I became useless around the house.” This crash led to a bout of depression lasting around two weeks in which he felt unable to function normally without the rush of adrenaline.

The duke’s mental health struggles are part of a broader context involving both him and his brother, the Prince of Wales, who have previously spoken about the difficulties they both faced after their mother’s passing. In fact, both are actively engaged with mental health charities. Recently, after stepping back from royal duties, Harry and his wife Meghan, along with their two children, moved to California. His discussion about coping with grief was shared through an online masterclass focusing on this very subject.

Earlier last month, the couple surprised many when they announced their return to the UK with their children, Prince Archie, age seven, and Princess Lilibet, age five, ending a six-year stay in the United States. They are now believed to reside in the Cotswolds. In the video session, Prince Harry also revealed a personal rule that he never allows himself to be separated from his family for more than ten days. Reflecting on his younger years, he recalled how, in his twenties, he deployed to Afghanistan twice, attempting to escape his emotions. However, he acknowledged, “But that’s not what happened.” He explained how his prolonged emotional numbness was largely due to his feelings of guilt and disloyalty surrounding his mother’s death, believing that he needed to remain sad and numb as a way to honor her memory

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