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Prince Harry said he “slipped into depression” for about two weeks after moving to Canada with his family years ago. He said he experienced an “adrenaline crash” just days after leaving the alleged stressful environment in Britain. 

In his new MasterClass, Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, Harry opened up about the change. “It was as if I needed stress in order to get the adrenaline to make my brain function because I became useless around the house. I actually slipped into depression for about two weeks and I felt like I couldn’t function without adrenaline,” he said.

According to Reuters, Harry said the crash hit within two or three days of arriving in Canada. He struggled with everyday tasks and felt he couldn’t function without the pressure he used to. Harry and Markle moved to Canada with Archie in late 2019. In January 2020, the couple announced they would step back as senior working royals. They later moved to Montecito, California. 

Harry also spoke about losing his mother, Princess Diana, in the MasterClass. She died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997, when Harry was just 12. For years, he struggled with emotional numbness. “For 15, 20 years, when I was being asked, ‘Are you okay?’, my response was, ‘I’m fine’. It was numbness, emotional shutdown,” he said. 

Harry also talked about joining the military at the age of 20. He described it as a way to keep his mind off his grief. “It was the driving force of what took me to joining the military at the age of 20. It was the perfect distraction. I couldn’t really think about much else apart from the task at hand,” he added.

The MasterClass featured neuroscientist and grief expert Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor. It was released on October 8, two days before World Mental Health Day on October 10. Harry returned to the U.K. on August 26, 2026. Markle and their children, Archie and Princess Lilibet, also joined him. The family arrived at Birmingham Airport from California around lunchtime. 

Soon, Harry attended an event involving Save the Children and Imperial College London on September 17. Later that day, the Duke attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. Harry arrived in a black-tie outfit and wore his military medals.

The next day, Harry traveled to Birmingham for the launch of Invictus INSPIRE. He attended the WellChild Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on September 21. Harry has been WellChild’s patron since 2007. Harry then traveled to New York City for the Clinton Global Initiative’s annual meeting. 

He attended the Skift Global Forum in New York on September 23 as the founder of Travalyst. Harry appeared at the United for Freedom gala at the Imperial War Museum in London on October 1. 

Harry also appeared virtually at a NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels. Harry and Markle were photographed holding hands as they headed to The Falkland Arms in Great Tew, Oxfordshire. The couple went there for lunch during their stay in Britain. 

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