Prince Harry capped off a day of men's mental health advocacy in Melbourne by asking for directions to a pub, drawing laughter from the crowd. The Duke of Sussex had just spoken at Whitten Oval, home of the Western Bulldogs AFL team, where he joined children's band The Wiggles and football stars to promote mental health awareness.
During the event, Harry candidly discussed the challenges of new fatherhood, revealing advice from his therapist: 'Just be aware of how you feel once the baby is born, because there is a huge excitement when the child comes into this earth. But after that, there are hours, days, weeks, for some men months, where you are wondering what to do.' He also spoke about dealing with past trauma, saying, 'I knew I had stuff from the past I had to deal with. For me, it became about doing the work on myself – almost cleansing the past – so I could show up as the best version of myself for my kids.'
The event was organised by Movember, a charity focused on men's health. Global director of research Zac Seidler led a Q&A, highlighting a new report that found many new fathers fall into depression. The intimate setting, with only one camera allowed, aimed to encourage open conversation.
Critics have accused Harry and Meghan of using the trip for financial gain, but attenders defended the prince. Bulldogs fan Rose Dennis said, 'By him being here, it gives a much higher profile to the organisation of Movember and gives him something to focus on.'
After the Melbourne event, Harry travelled to Canberra to visit the Australian War Memorial, where he laid a wreath honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers. He was greeted by about 100 members of the public before being escorted inside.
