Prince Harry has revealed that he felt a 'disconnection' in the early days of fatherhood, as he discussed his experience of therapy during a visit to Australia. Speaking at a Movember event in Melbourne on Wednesday, the Duke of Sussex said he knew he 'had stuff from the past that I needed to deal with' before having children.
Harry told the audience at the Whitten Oval, headquarters of Australian rules football club Western Bulldogs, that therapy helped him become 'the best version of yourself for your kids'. He added: 'I knew that I had stuff from the past that I needed to deal with, and therefore prepare myself to basically cleanse myself of the past.'
The duke described fatherhood as 'the most important and sort of transformational role that a guy can ever move into'. He noted a 'disconnection' in early fatherhood, saying: 'Certainly I felt a disconnection because my wife was the one creating life, and I was there to witness it.' He recalled advice from his therapist in the UK: 'Just be aware of how you feel once the baby is born.'
Harry also spoke about evolving parenting roles, stating: 'From my perspective, our kids are our upgrade.' He highlighted conversations now happening between parents and children that 'never existed between me and my parents'. The duke, who said he is 'fortunate enough to be able to work from home', also took part in a kickabout with Western Bulldogs players and children on the pitch.
Later, Harry visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where he was welcomed by Indigenous veterans and attended a Last Post Ceremony.
