Prince Harry Opens Up about Lack of Support After Military Deployment in New Netflix Series
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has candidly expressed his struggle with a lack of support upon returning home from his military deployment in Afghanistan. In a new Netflix series documenting the Invictus Games, Harry discusses his experience with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the emotional toll it took on him. The series, titled Heart of Invictus, premiered on the streaming service on Wednesday.
Reflecting on his return from combat in 2012, Harry revealed that the emotions he had suppressed following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, were triggered. The prince disclosed that there was never a discussion about the impact Diana’s death had on him. He emphasized the difficulty of his situation, asserting that he lacked a support structure, network, or professional guidance to identify and address his inner struggles.
The biggest struggle for me was no one around me really could help; I didn’t have that support structure, that network or that expert advice to identify what was actually going on with me, Harry shared. He further added, Unfortunately, like most of us, the first time you consider therapy is when you are lying on the floor in the fetal position probably wishing you had dealt with some of this stuff previously.
The new Netflix series, Heart of Invictus, follows a group of injured soldiers as they prepared for the Invictus Games held in The Netherlands last year. The Invictus Games, founded by Harry in 2014, is a Paralympic-style event aimed at inspiring military veterans worldwide as they strive to overcome injuries sustained in battle.
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, signed a significant deal with Netflix after stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family in 2020. The couple’s first Netflix production was the six-part series Harry & Meghan, which explored their decision to distance themselves from the monarchy. Now, with Heart of Invictus, Harry focuses on shedding light on the sacrifices made by veterans and their families during their service to their countries.
The Duke of Sussex attended a special preview of the new series in California on Tuesday, where he expressed his gratitude for the dedication shown by veterans and emphasized the importance of their stories being heard. You guys get to watch it tonight — or at least two episodes — to whet the appetite for the rest of it, Harry remarked in a video shared on social media.
Prince Harry’s openness about his struggles with mental health and his journey to receiving support is not only impactful for veterans but also for a wider audience. By sharing his personal experiences, he is breaking down barriers and stigma surrounding PTSD and encouraging others to seek help.
Through Heart of Invictus, Prince Harry is using his platform to shed light on the challenges faced by veterans while highlighting their resilience and determination. This series serves as a testament to the power of the human spirit and the importance of creating a support network for those who have sacrificed so much for their countries.
