Prince Harry Opens Up About the Challenges of Parenthood During Mental Health Discussion

During the second day of his and Meghan Markle’s visit to Australia, Prince Harry candidly shared his experiences with fatherhood. While the Duke of Sussex attended a mental health event on Wednesday at the Whitten Oval, home to AFL’s Western Bulldogs in Melbourne, the Duchess was notably absent.

At the event organized by Movember, Prince Harry opened up about the challenges he has faced since becoming a father, especially following the birth of his first child, Archie, in 2019. He acknowledged, “It’s the most important and transformational role a guy can ever move into,” admitting that navigating fatherhood has sometimes been a struggle.

This public engagement came amidst ongoing speculation about the purpose of the Sussexes’ privately-funded tour in Australia. Critics have suggested that the visit might be aimed at furthering their commercial interests. Nonetheless, Prince Harry’s candid reflections on his personal journey captured significant attention, offering a glimpse into the personal side of his life as a father while Archie and Lilibet remained at home in Los Angeles.

Speaking as Archie and Lilibet stayed home in Los Angeles, Harry admitted at times ‘it was a struggle’ after his eldest’s birth in 2019. 

‘It’s the most important and transformational role a guy can ever move into,’ he said. 

‘The role, gives you purpose. Those days, weeks, after birth are a real struggle. If I was stressed, the moment I held Archie… he would notice it quicker than I could.’ 

The prince, who stepped back as a working royal alongside his wife in March 2020, also spoke openly about attending therapy. 

‘You’re not alone,’ he said in Melbourne. ‘For me, [going to therapy] was a sign of strength, not weakness.

Prince Harry opened up about his struggles with fatherhood on Wednesday as his and Meghan Markle’s pseudo-royal trip Down Under entered its second day

The Duke of Sussex travelled to the home of AFL side Western Bulldogs to attend a Movember event

After speaking about his struggles with fatherhood, Harry was pictured kicking a ball around outside

He appeared in good spirits – but Meghan Markle was nowhere to be seen

The Prince also held up a scarf with the Western Bulldogs’ branding printed across it

‘Don’t ever let yourself get to the point where you are no use to anybody. You want to be the best version of yourself for your kids.’

Harry was pictured getting into the Aussie spirit after his speech as he spent 20 minutes kicking a football around with the Western Bulldogs. 

A crowd of around 100 AFL fans gathered at the Whitten Oval’s entrance for a glimpse of Harry as he departed, but they were left disappointed as the Duke slipped away through a side gate ahead of a trip to Canberra.

Harry boarded a Qantas business class flight to the city’s capital, where his tour Down Under continued with a visit to the Australian War Memorial.

After being welcomed by Indigenous veterans, the 41-year-old took part in wreath-laying and smoking ceremonies before being escorted inside for a private tour of the museum. 

He donned his service medals in the baking sunshine and appeared in good spirts with a crowd of locals shouting ‘G’day Harry’ upon his arrival.  

Harry is expected to attend the daily Last Post ceremony at the memorial before delivering a keynote address to the Invictus Australia in Canberra. 

There was, however, no sign of Meghan as mystery mounts over her movements with no events listed today on her official itinerary. 

After landing on a business class flight from LA on Tuesday morning, the Duchess accompanied the Duke on a visit to Melbourne’s children’s hospital to meet cancer patients. 

Later in the day, she went solo as she served frittata at a women’s refuge wearing £1,100 heart earrings, Princess Diana ‘s Cartier watch and a Tiffany gold bracelet before the couple reunited for a family craft session at the National Veterans Arts Museum.

Reports suggest that Meghan could be potentially holding private meetings with potential buyers and partners on Wednesday after her brand As Ever was recently trademarked in Australia. 

The trip marks the couple’s first Down Under since they were newly-weds some eight years ago, though the Sussexes are thought to have been left frustrated by the controversy it has caused. 

Prior to Harry and Meghan even touching down in Melbourne, their visit sparked backlash from local politicians over publicly-funded police protection. 

Meghan and Harry have insisted their trip is privately-funded since they are no longer working royals, but politicians have argued the public should not be paying for their police protection. 

The Duke later boarded a flight to Canberra ready for a visit to the Australian War Memorial

The 41-year-old took part in wreath-laying and smoking ceremonies before being escorted inside for a private tour of the museum

The Duke was welcomed to the site by Indigenous war veterans

There was however no sign of Meghan Markle with no events planned on her itinerary today

Harry was greeted with shouts of ‘G’day’ from locals in Canberra upon his arrival

The prince is pictured attending a smoking ceremony at the ‘For Our Country’ during his visit to Canberra

Harry is expected to attend the daily Last Post ceremony at the memorial before delivering a keynote address to the Invictus Australia

The couple have been accused of using Australia ‘like an ATM’ in remarks which have left Harry and Meghan frustrated, a source told the Daily Mail overnight. 

‘To be fair, they have tried to make the trip mostly about charitable endeavours and limited costs,’ the source said. 

‘Prince Harry has always had an affection for Australia and for a long time felt it was a home away from home, having done his gap year here in his youth. 

‘He in particular is known to keep up with his own press and would be taken aback by some strong reactions in the media and comment sections.’ 

The couple have however appeared relaxed since they arrived on Australian shores, despite some questioning ‘why are they even here?’

Ruptures of applause broke out from a large crowd when they first sighted at the Melbourne children’s hospital, where they spend about 45 minutes talking to children and parents on Tuesday morning. 

During the visit, the Sussexes aides assured onlookers that the Harry and Meghan are laid back about how they are addressed, declaring: ‘Harry and Meghan is fine. They’re pretty relaxed.’ 

Later, the 44-year-old princess insisted crowds ‘call her Meg’ at a women’s refuge where she was pictured serving frittata. 

As they arrived, Australia’s first poet laureate for veterans, Steve Cotterill, asked them: ‘How would you like me to address you?’

Harry shrugged with a smile and said: ‘However you like’ before his wife said: ‘Call me Meg?’

Meghan and Harry arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday aboard a business class flight from Los Angeles

The couple attended the Melbourne children’s hospital where they were greeted by large crowds

During the visit, the Sussexes aides assured onlookers that the Harry and Meghan are laid back about how they are addressed, declaring: ‘Harry and Meghan is fine. They’re pretty relaxed.’

Later in the day, she went solo as she served frittata at a women’s refuge wearing £1,100 heart earrings, Princess Diana ‘s Cartier watch and a Tiffany gold bracelet

Meghan was attending a a family craft session at the National Veterans Arts Museum.

The four-day trip will also see Harry and Meghan attend an Invictus Australia event in Sydney before Meghan stars at the ‘Her Best Life’ retreat at nearby Coogee Beach.

Tickets for the weekend cost up to $3,199 AUD (£1,400) and include a chance to have a photo with the Duchess and ask her questions at a gala dinner in a five-star hotel. Meghan’s fee has been described as a ‘fat one’, and is apparently in the region of $250,000.

But, with just two days before Meghan’s speech begins, tickets are still yet to sell out.

A post on Her Best Life’s podcast’s Instagram account announced a ‘final last-minute’ availability of tickets for three solo rooms and two double rooms at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel at Coogee Beach.

The caption read: ‘Guest list now closing – final availability due to movement. See you ladies this weekend!! Can’t wait!’  

A leaked itinerary, obtained by the Daily Mail, states that attendees must undergo rigorous security clearance before the ‘inspiring live conversation’ during which the use of phones is strictly prohibited.

The opening section of the itinerary reads: ‘Much like our previous events, and in keeping with our usual policy, this is a strict no phones, no recording moment for the duration of the interview.

‘We promise it’s worth it – this is about being fully present, soaking it all in, and it’s also a non-negotiable security requirement. Phones away, eyes up, and enjoy the magic!’

Guests who purchased a Standard ticket will be given time at the end to ‘capture a photo of Gemma with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on stage’, according to the itinerary.

However, it’s a different case for ticket-holders who have splashed out £1,700 on the VIP tier and are assured of ‘VIP Group Photos with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’.

The retreat is expected to bring in nearly $1million in ticket revenue, the Daily Mail reported, after the Sussexes were accused of using Australia ‘like an ATM’ on a quasi-royal tour that some insist is all about ‘making money’ and ‘self-promotion’.  

Harry is the star speaker at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne on Thursday, where tickets range from £525 to £1,250 with a ‘virtual ticket’ for Harry’s speech costing costing £260 alone.

The couple insist their 2026 trip is ‘privately-funded’ but there is some disquiet because Australian taxpayers are due to foot the bill for some police security. Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition demanding the Sussexes cover all the costs themselves.

One critic accused them of treating Australia ‘like an ATM’ because the country had been ‘good to them’ when they were working royals.

Later in the day, the couple arrived at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum

Harry meets a veteran as he is helped with his apron

Meghan Markle claps as she takes part in a crafts session

One parent, who had been passing the children’s hospital in Melbourne on Tuesday, told the Daily Mail she was taken aback after spotting the couple’s arrival.  

‘I just came here and was like, “What is going on?” Anything that acknowledges us (patients and parents at the hospital) is a good thing,’ Pina Roberts told the Mail. 

‘But I didn’t even know they were coming, so I would wonder why they are actually here.’   

Following their visit to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, Harry and Meghan changed into matching olive green outfits as they stopped at the Australian National Veterans Art Museum on Tuesday afternoon.

Meghan wore a mock neck sleeveless sweater by Australian brand P Johnson, with a skirt and bomber jacket by fellow Australian brand St Agni and Aquazzura shoes as she was given a tour of the site.

The couple then put on aprons and joined a pottery session with the children of veterans, known as ‘doves’ by the museum, with Meghan crafting a clay ostrich.

She told children at the class: ‘There’s an ostrich farm actually not far from our home.’

Asked a question about birds by a young girl at the class, Meghan replied: ‘My husband will know, my husband knows everything about birds.’

When asked what his clay creation was, Harry replied: ‘It’s a one-winged kookaburra, it’s very rare.’

Harry, wearing an olive green shirt, went over to touch an installation, created by Kat Rae and Kelly Manning last year, which was made of polystyrene, shredded paper and cable ties, that spelt out ‘curiosity’.