Prince Harry's public admission of his panic attack struggles has drawn kind-hearted support, but that sympathy could quickly evaporate if reports of a new documentary about his late mother prove true, according to the Daily Express's Chris Riches.
In a new MasterClass instalment titled "Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss," the Duke of Sussex, 42, discussed the chemical effects of grief on the brain and body with neuroscientist Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor, linking it to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
Harry's Candid Admission
Speaking in the interview, Harry said: "Everybody knew what had happened to me as a kid. For 15, 20 years, when I was being asked, 'Are you okay?' My response was, 'I'm fine'. It was numbness, emotional shutdown."
He added: "I would be experiencing panic attacks just in the car on the way to work. And that's when I realised, okay, there's something bigger. There's something else that you need to look into here."
Riches, who himself has suffered panic attacks following a cancer diagnosis, credited Harry for speaking out, noting that few people do so publicly.
Risk of Losing Goodwill
However, Riches warned that the goodwill generated by such moments is easily lost. He recalled the couple's departure from the UK in 2020, when some sympathy existed, but it faded after they implied the Royal Family had a racism issue, opened Britain to mockery on the world stage, and monetised their grievances through books and TV appearances.
Now, a persistent rumour suggests Harry is working on a new documentary dedicated to Princess Diana, reportedly with Netflix in the running to produce it. The project would be released next year to mark the 30th anniversary of Diana's death in a car crash in Paris, and Harry has reportedly reached out to friends and family to contribute.
Potential Fallout with William
Prince William is said to have firmly declined any documentary plans, turning down "several offers." Friends of the Prince of Wales say next year's anniversary is "a difficult situation for him" and he remains "really emotional" about the tragedy.
The brothers are not believed to have been in touch for around four years, though Harry's return to the UK was hoped to have started a thaw. If Harry proceeds with the documentary, it could widen the rift and open him to claims he is exploiting his mother's death.
