Harry Reveals King Charles' Heartbreaking Words that Stuck In His Mind ‘Like Dart in a Board’

At just twelve years old, Prince Harry lost his mother, Princess Diana, in a tragic car accident in Paris. In his memoir, Spare, he opened up about his dwindling mental health after her death. He recalled a heartbreaking moment of how his father, then-Prince Charles, broke the news of his mother’s demise.

He recounted anxiously waiting for confirmation that his mother was okay, even after his father informed him of the accident. According to the New York Post, he shared that he thought to himself, “She has been taken to the hospital, they will fix her head, and we will go and see her. Today. Tonight at the latest,” in desperation. He further revealed how the reality finally sank in after Charles explained, “They tried, darling boy. She didn't make it, I am afraid.” Harry was so shell-shocked by the ordeal that he still remembers his father’s strong words. He said, "These phrases remain in my mind like darts on a board." He added, “I do remember with startling clarity...that I didn’t cry. Not one tear.”

He also spilled that after breaking the devastating news, Charles didn't hug him. In Spare, he penned, “He wasn’t great at showing emotions under normal circumstances, how could he be expected to show them in such a crisis?” Harry, who couldn't even comprehend the loss, had to walk behind his mother’s coffin for the funeral. He revealed that he and his brother, Prince William, were instructed not to show any emotions during the funeral. In a 2017 interview with Newsweek, he opined, “I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today.” However, in hindsight, the Prince shared that he doesn't regret the decision to participate in her funeral procession.

Harry also recalled a beautiful gift that he received from his aunt, Sarah Ferguson. Shortly after Diana’s death, Ferguson had given him a small blue box, carrying a lock of Diana's hair which she cut when she was in Paris. Ferguson and Diana, who were close friends since their teenage years, reportedly grew apart years before her death, as per Town and Country magazine. Nevertheless, she fondly still remembers her former sister-in-law. “I believe that Diana would be so proud of her boys, and she'd be so proud of her grandchildren,” she told the outlet.

Harry battled drug and alcohol addiction in the aftermath of his mother’s death. In his memoir, he revealed that as a young adult, he turned to substance use to numb his grief and inner turmoil. Over time, he sought healthier ways to cope, embracing therapy and alternative healing methods. He also credits his military service and the support of his wife, Meghan Markle, for helping him move past.