Prince Harry experienced a two-week depression and an unexpected physical “adrenaline crash” after relocating from the United Kingdom to Vancouver Island in late 2019, according to details shared in a recent MasterClass session.
Adrenaline Crash and Depression Following the 2019 Move
The Duke of Sussex stated that he and his wife, Meghan Markle, moved to Canada with their son, Prince Archie, to escape a high-pressure environment and find space to think. Within days of leaving Britain, however, Harry experienced a severe physiological reaction. The prince described feeling useless around the house because his body had grown accustomed to functioning under chronic stress.
“Being in Canada, away from the stressful environment where presumably my body was just pumped full of adrenaline, within two or three days, I experienced this adrenaline crash, something that I’d never experienced before,” Harry said during the online learning session titled Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, speaking with neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor. He added that he slipped into a two-week depression while struggling to function without the constant surge of adrenaline.
Childhood Grief and Emotional Numbness After Princess Diana’s Death
During the same MasterClass session, Harry opened up about the long-term emotional impact of losing his mother, Princess Diana, in a 1997 car crash when he was 12 years old. The prince admitted he initially refused to believe his mother was gone, convincing himself she had staged an exit to escape her turbulent life and would eventually return in disguise to retrieve him and his brother, Prince William.
Harry spent decades feeling emotionally numb, stating that he avoided thinking about his mother because it was too painful and that he felt guilty experiencing joy. “I felt like I had to be sad and I had to be emotionally numb in order to prove to her that I missed her,” he shared. He also recalled that joining the military at age 20 served as the “perfect distraction” from processing his grief.
Security Costs and Subsequent Relocation to California
The family’s initial stay in Canada sparked international headlines and security expenditures. Documents obtained through an access to information request showed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police spent $56,384 on overtime and logistics between November 18, 2019, and January 19, 2020. Those security expenses ceased shortly before the couple relocated to Montecito, California, in March 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prince Harry’s MasterClass Revelations
What platform hosted Prince Harry’s discussion on grief?
The Duke of Sussex recorded his remarks for MasterClass, an online streaming education platform, appearing in a session titled Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss alongside neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor.
How long did Prince Harry’s post-relocation depression last?
Harry stated that he slipped into a depression that lasted for about two weeks after arriving in Canada, attributing the mental health struggle to an abrupt physical drop in stress hormones.
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