Prince Harry reveals why Archie's first words were 'really sad' for him in new docuseries

Harry also candidly discussed therapy during his new show, which he produced alongside Oprah Winfrey

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the Patron of the Rugby Football League hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws at Buckingham Palace on January 16, 2020 in London, England
(Image credit: WPA Pool/Pool via Getty Images)

Prince Harry has opened up about one of his son Archie's first words, which he says was "really sad" for him. 


Two-year-old Archie Harrison, who was born in May 2019, will become a big brother later this year, as Meghan and Harry are expecting a baby girl in the summer. 

The little girl will be one of four royal babies born this year—meaning the Queen will have 12 great-grandchildren after the birth of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's first child in the autumn. 

In an episode of his new mental health docuseries, The Me You Can't See, Prince Harry shared how the family ensures Princess Diana is a part of his son's life, revealing that one of Archie's first words was bittersweet. 

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor at a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa.

(Image credit: Pool via Getty Images)

"I got a photo of [Diana] in his nursery and it was one of the first words that he said—apart from 'mama', 'papa'—it was then 'grandma'. Grandma Diana," he explained.

"It's the sweetest thing, but at the same time it makes me really sad, because she should be here."

The Duke of Sussex also opened up about committing to therapy after meeting his now-wife Meghan. "I knew that if I didn't do the therapy and fix myself that I was going to lose this woman who I could see spending the rest of my life with," he explained.

"There was a lot of learning right at the beginning of our relationship. She was shocked to be coming backstage of the institution of the British royal family.

"When she said, 'I think you need to see someone,' it was in reaction to an argument that we had. And in that argument, not knowing about it, I reverted back to 12-year-old Harry. The moment I started therapy, it was probably within my second session, my therapist turned around to me and said, 'That sounds like you're reverting to 12-year-old Harry'."

He continued, "I felt somewhat ashamed and defensive. Like, 'How dare you? You're calling me a child.' And she goes, 'No, I'm not calling you a child. I'm expressing sympathy and empathy for you for what happened to you when you were a child. You never processed it. You were never allowed to talk about it and all of a sudden now it's coming up in different ways as projection'.

"That was the start of a learning journey for me. I became aware that I'd been living in a bubble within this family, within this institution and I was sort of almost trapped in a thought process or a mindset."

We applaud Harry for discussing his mental health so candidly, and hope his openness about therapy encourages others who need it to seek help too.

Lucy Abbersteen

Lucy is a UK-based beauty journalist who has written for titles including Marie Claire, Glamour and OK!, as well as contributing to woman&home. Her work covers everything from expert skin and haircare advice to beauty trends and reviews of the latest products. During her career she regularly speaks to the industry's leading hairdressers, dermatologists and make-up artists, has covered backstage at London Fashion Week and interviewed many a celeb about their beauty routine.