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Prince Harry reveals he’s in therapy and says he left royal family to protect his son Archie

Harry and Meghan made first joint public appearance at a talk for JPMorgan in Miami, reports say

Chelsea Ritschel
Friday 07 February 2020 20:22 GMT
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Prince Harry explains decision to quit royal duties

Prince Harry has spoken out about leaving the royal family and revealed he’s in therapy during a speech, according to reports.

The former royal was introduced by Gayle King at the JPMorgan-sponsored Alternative Investment Summit in Miami, Florida, on Thursday, according to the New York Post.

A source told the newspaper: ”Harry spoke about mental health and how he has been in therapy for the past few years to try to overcome the trauma of losing his mother.

“He talked about how the events of his childhood affected him and that he has been talking to a mental health professional.

“Harry also touched on Megxit, saying while it has been very difficult on him and Meghan, he does not regret their decision to step down as senior royals because he wants to protect his family. He does not want Meghan and their son Archie to go through what he did as a child.”

Meghan also reportedly addressed the crowd at the summit – the couple’s first joint public appearance since stepping back as senior members of the royal family – where she briefly expressed her love for her husband.

The source told the newspaper that Meghan and Harry’s presence at the event was all very “hush-hush, with a lot of security” and that the couple allegedly “headlined the event as keynote speakers”. It is currently unknown whether the couple, who announced that they would be working to become financially independent, were paid for the appearance.

This is not the first time that Prince Harry has discussed his decision to seek mental health treatment following the death of his mother. In 2017, Prince Harry revealed in an interview with The Telegraph that he “shut down all his emotions” for almost two decades before seeking professional help.

Following his admission, mental health charities reported a surge in the number of people contacting them.

Since stepping back from their royal duties, the couple and nine-month-old Archie have been staying on Vancouver Island, People reports. In January, Prince Harry said during a speech at a private dinner for the Sentebale charity that he felt he had “no other option” but to step back from the royal family, but wanted to make it clear “we’re not walking away”.

“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges and I know I haven’t always got it right, but as far as this goes there really was no other option,” he said.

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