Prince Harry has shared an insight into the parenting techniques passed onto him by his late mother Princess Diana that he adopts with his own children. The Duke of Sussex is a father to Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, who he shares with his wife Meghan Markle. The family now live in the United States but are currently back in the UK for work commitments and the children have come along too.
Diana's Affectionate Parenting Style
Prince Harry tragically lost his mother Princess Diana when he was just 12-years-old and his older brother Prince William was just 15 in a fatal car crash. Harry says her memory lives on in how he chooses to parent his own children, keeping her style at the forefront of his mind when raising Archie and Lilibet.
Speaking candidly on the Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast, he explained: "The resilience of kids is amazing and the way they view life is so incredibly refreshing. And if a day is hard, one thing I will do is always squeeze my kids that extra, extra tight." Prince Harry explained how his mother was always very affectionate with him, providing a support he wants to offer to his own children.
Royal Family Ties
While Archie and Lilibet are said to have not met with their grandfather King Charles in almost four years after moving to Los Angeles. Their current trip to the UK is the first time they have seen him since Harry and Meghan fled in 2023.
Dealing with Trauma
Elsewhere in his new interview, Harry spoke about dealing with trauma and said "exercise, sport and being able to find the time to take yourself somewhere, do something – repetition is great, have a routine" was the best way to get through it. "Boxing, another thing that I really enjoy, just to let the aggression out, get a sweat on, to me it's always about getting a sweat on," he added as he reflected on the power of exercise.
Honouring Diana's Memory
Harry was asked earlier this week if he does anything special to honour his late mother on the anniversary of her death or her birthday. The question, posed by a young man who lost his own father at a young age, was answered by the Duke. "Yes, we do lemon drizzle cake. I think traditions are really, really important. Especially when they're sweet," he explained.
In a separate interview, talking about grief, he added: "In my experience, loss is disorienting at any age. Grief does not disappear because we ignore it. Experiencing that as a kid while in a goldfish bowl under constant surveillance, yes, that will have its challenges. And without purpose, it can break you." He added: "There have been many times when I've felt overwhelmed. Times when I've felt lost, betrayed or completely powerless. Times when the pressure - externally and internally - felt constant. And times when, despite everything going on, I still had to show up pretending everything was okay, so as not to let anyone down. For many years I was numb to it, and perhaps that was easier then, but I also didn't yet have the tools to deal with it."
