PRINCE HARRY’S EMOTIONAL DIANA CONFESSION OPENS A DOOR — BUT ONE REPORTED MOVE COULD DESTROY HIS HOPES OF RECONCILING WITH WILLIAM

Prince Harry has spoken candidly about the panic attacks and emotional shutdown he experienced after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, earning attention for an unusually personal reflection on grief. But royal commentator Chris Riches believes the Duke of Sussex could risk losing that goodwill if reports about a possible new Diana documentary prove accurate.

In a new episode of MasterClass, titled Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, Harry spoke with neuroscientist Dr Mary-Frances O’Connor about how grief affects the brain and body. He reflected on the years he spent concealing his struggles and pretending he was coping.

“For 15, 20 years, when I was being asked, ‘Are you okay?’ My response was, ‘I’m fine’,” Harry said. “It was numbness, emotional shutdown.”

He also recalled experiencing panic attacks on his way to work, describing the moment he realised that something more serious needed his attention.

“I would be experiencing panic attacks just in the car on the way to work,” he explained. “And that’s when I realised, okay, there’s something bigger. There’s something else that you need to look into here.”

Riches, writing in the Daily Express, acknowledged the importance of Harry speaking openly about panic attacks, drawing on his own experience following a cancer diagnosis. However, the commentator argued that the positive response could be undermined by the Sussexes’ past public disputes with the Royal Family.

THE DIANA DOCUMENTARY RUMOUR

The biggest concern raised in the opinion piece centres on reports that Harry may be working on a documentary about Diana ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death in 2027.

Netflix has reportedly been linked to the potential project, which could involve Harry approaching friends and family members to contribute. However, the documentary has not been officially confirmed.

According to reports cited by Riches, Prince William has declined several approaches connected to documentary plans. Friends of the Prince of Wales have also described the anniversary as a difficult period for him, given the lasting emotional impact of losing their mother in a Paris car crash in 1997.

The brothers are not believed to have been in contact for around four years, although Harry’s recent return to the UK had prompted hopes that relations might begin to improve.

COULD THE BROTHERS’ RIFT DEEPEN AGAIN?

Riches argues that moving ahead with a Diana documentary without William’s involvement could further strain the brothers’ already fragile relationship. The commentator also raises the possibility that Harry could face criticism over the use of his mother’s story, particularly if the project is perceived as commercially motivated.

Those concerns remain opinion and speculation rather than established outcomes. There has been no official confirmation of the documentary, and William’s reported response has not been publicly detailed by Kensington Palace.

Harry’s recent comments, meanwhile, have offered a glimpse into the personal toll of grief and the difficulty of acknowledging emotional distress after years of keeping it private.

With the anniversary of Diana’s death approaching, any potential project about her life would inevitably attract attention. Whether Harry pursues it, and whether William would have any involvement, remain unanswered questions.

For now, Harry’s next steps could shape how the brothers navigate a deeply personal family history — one that continues to affect them in different ways.