My tour of Afghanistan in 2012, flying Apaches, was the point at which I started unraveling. The trigger, for me, was actually returning from Afghanistan." The 38-year-old prince went on to explain that the unresolved trauma from his mother's death in 1997 resurfaced, something he had suppressed since the age of 12.
Prince Harry, who recently announced his bombshell memoir, highlighted the importance of setting boundaries in the wake of its release. Julia Samuel, a psychotherapist, and one of Princess Diana's closest friends, emphasized the significance of boundaries. She became close to Diana after meeting her in 1987 and is also the godmother of Prince George.
Julia Samuel is believed to have provided support to Meghan Markle during a challenging period in her life when Meghan felt suicidal during pregnancy. Julia shared during a therapy session that Meghan was venting to everyone, which isn't a helpful way to deal with negative feelings. In a statement written later in her book, Julia Samuel noted that some people use death as a means to threaten others, but it often doesn't yield the desired results.
While Meghan revealed feeling suicidal before an event at the Royal Albert Hall, reports suggest that Julia Samuel did not receive any calls from Meghan and Harry during that time. Meghan had requested early preparation by makeup and hairdressers for the event, but her behavior seemed normal, with the only difference being that she wanted heavier makeup to match the event's lighting conditions.
Prince Harry drew parallels between his experience and Princess Diana's, suggesting that Meghan went through a similar ordeal as his mother, including the feeling of being trapped within the royal family. However, Diana's best friend and family member, Charles Spencer, doesn't share this viewpoint. In his opinion, Meghan is similar to her mother, and he even tried to have a conversation with Harry about his relationship with Meghan at Prince William's request. This advice led to a bitter reaction, further straining their relationship.
Prince Harry also spoke about the long-lasting impact of his mother's death, acknowledging that he struggled for years to accept and discuss it. He mentioned that he couldn't process her loss and emphasized that true closure might never be attainable, especially when dealing with the grief of losing a parent. Nevertheless, he noted that the healing process allowed him to feel his mother's presence more strongly in his life than ever before, describing her as his guardian angel.
