5 Times The Royal Family Were Candid About Mental Health

The royals are just like us. Minus the tiaras, country estates and funny titles. Seriously, they are human and all humans are subject to the same kinds of life experiences, highs, lows, challenges, and problems.

They do pride themselves on keeping a stiff upper lip however, so it’s not often you may hear or read of a royal talking about personal challenges, let alone mental health issues. There are exceptions to the rule of course, and periodically members of the royal family have discussed the life issues they found problematic. Here are five of those times.

#1 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been candid about mental health

Prince William and Kate Middleton get a big thumbs up for launching the “Heads Together” campaign in 2016. At the time the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince Harry joined forces to stop the stigma around mental health. Their foundation was organized by The Royal Foundation.

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The Duchess of Cambridge said when the foundation debuted, “Too often, people feel afraid to admit that they are struggling with their mental health.”

“This fear of judgment stops people from getting the help they need, which can destroy families and end lives. Heads Together want to help everyone feel much more confident with their everyday mental health, and to have the practical tools to support their friends and family.”

Three years later the couple, together with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex debuted Shout, a mental health texting service open 24 hours.

#2 Princess Diana experienced post-natal depression

Princess Diana was the first royal in the family to talk about post-natal depression saying it took her by surprise because she had, “never had depression in my life.”

In an appearance on BBC’s Panorama in 1995, she said, “I was unwell with post-natal depression, which no one ever discusses, post-natal depression, you have to read about it afterward, and that in itself was a bit of a difficult time.

“You’d wake up in the morning feeling you didn’t want to get out of bed, you felt misunderstood, and just very, very low in yourself.”

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#3 Prince Harry was close to a complete breakdown

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has gone on record to say that his brother Prince William convinced him to get help after he was, “very close to a complete breakdown.”

He talked about his struggles in 2017, how his mother’s death had affected his mental health.

Harry shared that, “I can safely say that losing my mum at the age of 12, and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years, has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life but my work as well,” he said.

#4 Prince William talked about dealing with negative emotion

In September 2018 Prince William openly talked about the “despair and sadness” he experienced during his time as an air ambulance pilot. He stated at the time, “I took a lot home without realizing it.”

“You see many sad things every day that you think life is like that. You’re always dealing with despair and sadness and injury. The attrition builds up and you never really have the opportunity to offload anything if you’re not careful.”

#5 Prince William and Kate Middleton have said isolation has negatively affected Prince Charles’ mental health

In April they told the BBC Prince Charles’ brush with coronavirus has limited his time outdoors. “I think the hardest thing he found was having to stop, and not be able to go and get fresh air and go for a walk,” William said.

“He’s a mad walker, he loves walking. He found it quite difficult with his mental health not being able to go outside on walks.”

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