Prince Harry is opening up about the side of fatherhood that no amount of preparation could have fully explained. As he and Meghan Markle settle into their family’s new chapter in Britain, the Duke of Sussex has shared a candid reflection on raising Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, acknowledging the challenges alongside the happiness they bring him.
“Becoming a father is an emotional rollercoaster,” Harry says in his new MasterClass, Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss. “I wish I’d known how hard being a father was going to be. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
© meghanHis words offer a more personal perspective on life with Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5. Rather than presenting parenting as effortless, Harry speaks openly about how demanding it can be while expressing pride in the family he and Meghan have built.
“I’m proud that we’ve got this far. You know, super happy that I’ve got two healthy, beautiful, amusing, very funny kids,” he adds.
© Alexi Lubomirski / ArchewellThe moment with Archie and Lilibet that means so much to him:
One photograph captures that happiness particularly well. During the class, Harry shares an image he took of Archie and Lilibet walking hand-in-hand through a tidal pool. Meghan previously posted the photograph on Instagram to celebrate Archie’s seventh birthday in May.
© MeghanMarkle/IG“I love this photo. I took this photo,” Harry says. “This was just before Archie’s birthday.” For him, its significance lies in the simple sight of his children enjoying a peaceful moment together.
“The two of them, brother and sister, at peace with each other in nature, fills my heart,” he adds. The conversation with neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor explores grief and resilience, including how losing Princess Diana when he was 12 shaped Harry’s life.
© Courtesy of ArchewellHis reflections on his own children bring another dimension to that discussion, revealing the happiness he now finds in everyday family moments.
A new chapter for the family in Britain:
Harry’s comments arrive as Archie and Lilibet adjust to a significant change of their own. The Sussexes returned to Britain on August 26 after years in California, beginning an extended stay in Harry’s home country.
© MeghanMarkle/InstagramAccording to People, a source says the children have adjusted well to their new school and family routine. Helping them through the transition has been a priority for Harry and Meghan, with the move motivated partly by his wish for them to experience the country where he grew up.
Making time for fatherhood:
Harry also explains how he protects family time around his professional commitments. As we previously reported, he follows a rule limiting how long he spends away from Meghan and their children.
© meghan“The biggest factor for me is the energy and the joy and happiness that I get being with my family, especially our kids, and the joy and happiness I get by being on the ground for my work,” he explains. “And the key to finding the joy and happiness balance is no more than 10 days away from my wife and kids.”
For Harry, those responsibilities sit alongside one another. Pursuing work with purpose while remaining present as a husband and father. His affectionate response to the photograph of Archie and Lilibet shows why that time together matters so much.
© Aaron Chown - PA Images
