The 41-year-old royal appeared at the InterEdge Summit held at Melbourne’s CENTREPIECE venue on Thursday (16 April), alongside Meghan Markle. He had been scheduled to deliver the keynote address, which was expected to focus mainly on mental health in the workplace.
He opened by acknowledging the current global climate, saying many people are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and powerless.
Not long into his 19-minute speech, however, he shifted to something more personal, reflecting on moments in his own life when he felt “lost,” “betrayed,” and without control, particularly after the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
Diana died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997, alongside Dodi Fayed and their driver Henri Paul. Harry was just 12 at the time, while his brother Prince William was 15.
Speaking to the audience, Harry said he wasn’t sure whether he was expected to appear as someone who had everything figured out or someone still struggling behind the scenes. He noted that while his life experiences may be unusual, the emotions tied to them are something many people can relate to.