Prince Harry Self-Soothed With Drinks and Drugs to Numb the Pain of Diana's Death
by Dragana Kovacevic
Prince Harry is opening up about his mental health to Oprah Winfrey in an interview for his new Apple TV+ docuseries focused on the topic.
The Duke of Sussex revealed his emotional struggles while trying to cope with his mother's death and the pressures of royal life, especially during his late 20s and early 30s. He shared that he drank heavily, took drugs and experienced panic attacks and severe anxiety.
Related: Lifetime reveals new Prince Harry and Meghan Markle movie.
He also shared his anger and frustration with the injustice of his mother's passing; Princess Diana, died in 1997, when the Duke of Sussex was only 12. Harry said that in the years following her death, few people around him discussed it.
"Twenty-eight to probably 32 was a nightmare time in my life," he said. "I would probably drink a week's worth in one day on a Friday or a Saturday night," he told Winfrey. "And I would find myself drinking not because I was enjoying it but because I was trying to mask something."
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"I was willing to drink, I was willing to take drugs," he said, adding: "I was willing to try and do the things that made me feel less like I was feeling."
See also: All the baby name predictions for Harry and Meghan's baby girl.
The docuseries, titled The Me You Can't See, covers stories meant to remove the stigma of mental health. Winfrey and Harry co-created and executive produced the series.
It will also feature appearances from the likes of Lady Gaga, actress Glenn Close and former NBA Toronto Raptor, DeMar DeRozan.
In a bid to create some distance from royal life, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped down from their formal royal roles last year and have since relocated to California. The pair also appeared in an explosive Oprah Winfrey interview back in March, where Markle shared she contemplated suicide while pregnant with son, Archie.
Despite the royal rift, Prince Harry did reunite with brother Prince William for the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip.
Written ByDragana Kovacevic