The new series marks Prince Harry's latest project as part of his multi-million Netflix deal, where he gave rare insights into his relationship with King Charles and Prince William.
Prince Harry's new Netflix docuseries, Heart of Invictus, offers an intimate and revealing look into his life, particularly his time in the military and the profound impact it had on his mental health. In this five-part documentary (released on 30 August), the Duke of Sussex shares deeply personal experiences, including the unraveling he faced after returning from his tour of duty in Afghanistan and the long-suppressed trauma of losing his mother, Princess Diana, at a tender age.
The unraveling after Afghanistan
In the docuseries, Prince Harry speaks openly about the challenging period he faced upon returning from his final tour of Afghanistan. He describes it as an 'unraveling' that he experienced, revealing that it was triggered by his return from the war-torn region. He shares:
'The stuff that was coming up was from 1997, from the age of 12, losing my mum at such a young age, the trauma that I had I was never really aware of. It was never discussed, I didn't really talk about it. And I just suppressed it as most youngsters would have done.'
Prince Harry candidly admits that one of his most significant struggles following his mother's death was the absence of a support structure. Harry states:
'The biggest struggle for me is no-one around me could really help, I didn't have that support structure, that network or that expert advice to identify what was actually going on with me.'
Diana tragically lost her life in a car accident at the age of 36, a widely publicized incident often attributed to the presence of paparazzi who were tailing the princess as she traveled through Paris. This tragic collision also resulted in the deaths of Diana's partner, Dodi Fayed, and her driver, Henri Paul.
The docuseries also sheds light on Prince Harry's years-long suppression of grief, a common coping mechanism for many who have experienced traumatic losses at a young age. In what appears to be yet another swipe at his royal relatives, Harry reveals:
'But then when it all came fizzing out, I was bouncing off the walls. I was like, ‘What is going on here, I am now feeling everything as opposed to being numb’.
As per The Mirror, Prince Harry's revelations extend to the topic of therapy. He openly discusses that it was only when he found himself in a dire emotional state that he seriously contemplated seeking therapeutic help, saying, 'Unfortunately, like most of us, the first time you really consider therapy is when you are lying on the floor in the foetal position probably wishing you had dealt with some of this stuff previously.'
The Duke added he couldn't feel nor cry for a long time:
'For all those years I had no emotion. I was unable to cry. I was unable to feel. I didn’t know it at the time. Then when I was aged 28 it all came out. It was like my emotions sprayed all over the wall.'
Heart of Invictus: A passion project
Heart of Invictus is not just a personal journey for Prince Harry but also a celebration of the Invictus Games, which he created in 2014. According to WWD, this Paralympic-style sporting competition provides a platform for injured and sick military personnel and veterans to showcase their resilience and determination. The documentary offers a window into the inspiring stories of these athletes as they overcome adversity on their journey to the Invictus Games. The Invictus Games holds a special place in both Harry and Meghan's hearts and after attending the recent games in Germany the couple opted for a secret holiday.
As the executive producer of the Heart of Invictus series, Prince Harry continues to leverage the multi-million-pound deal he and Meghan Markle secured with Netflix. This partnership has already yielded their significant project from last year, the controversial Harry & Meghan documentary. In this six-part series, which premiered in December, the couple provided insights into their challenging experiences within the royal family. They did not shy away from addressing contentious topics, including allegations that Kensington Palace had been less than forthright during the Megxit summit, ostensibly to protect Harry's brother William and his father Charles, now the reigning King.
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