Prince William blasts monarchy’s ‘stiff upper lip’ tradition and backs Harry’s admission of his mental anguish after death of mother Diana
PRINCE William yesterday backed brother Harry’s brave admission of his mental anguish — and blasted the monarchy’s “stiff upper lip” tradition.
He spoke out against the royals’ famous ability to keep emotions in check a day after Harry confessed to “shutting down” his feelings after mum Diana’s death.
William said: “There may be a time and a place for the ‘stiff upper lip’ but not at the expense of your health.”
Harry described how bottling up his feelings for 20 years drove him to the verge of breakdown — and revealed it was William who persuaded him to finally get help.
William yesterday said he and his wife will raise Prince George and Princess Charlotte to be more relaxed about talking of their emotions.
He told charity mag CALMzine: “Catherine and I are clear we want both George and Charlotte to grow up feeling able to talk about their emotions and feelings.
“Over the past year we have visited a number of schools together where we have been amazed listening to children talk about some quite difficult subjects in a clear and emotionally articulate way, something most adults would struggle with.
“Seeing this has really given me hope things are changing and there is a generation coming up who find it normal to talk openly about emotions.”
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William spoke to the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) as part of the royals support for Heads Together.
It is a charity coalition campaign to raise awareness about the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Harry and William are backing the campaign, which is this year’s London Marathon appeal.
William said his work as an air ambulance helicopter pilot has made him aware of the high number of suicides by young men.
He said: “I hope through Heads Together and with CALM we can show how to tackle this — by helping men feel they can open up about pressures they are going through and get the help they need.”
Last night it emerged that schoolkids are to be given greater access to NHS mental health workers.
It is hoped the plan will combat growing levels of depression and anxiety.
Ministers are considering plans to place NHS professionals in secondary school on a full-time basis, the Telegraph reported.
