Prince Harry's Fatherhood Journey: From Childhood Trauma to Smothering His Kids With Love

Prince Harry said he smothers his two children, Archie and Lilibet, with the affection he never got from his own father growing up.

In a paid live stream by trauma, addiction, and childhood development expert Dr. Gabor Maté, the prince admitted to putting himself in constant awareness to ensure he is not passing trauma on to his children.

Prince Harry's fatherhood journey

According to the New York Post, during a virtual event that took place recently, the Duke of Sussex was interviewed about his exiled royal's memoir titled "Spare." The virtual event cost $33.09, and attendees were given a copy of the fastest-selling non-fiction book.

The Duke of Sussex opened up about his parenting style during the interview. He shared that he is committed to showering his children with love and affection.

The Duke's childhood lacked this kind of love, so he is ensuring that his 3-year-old son Archie and 21-month-old daughter Lilibet get plenty of it.

The Duke said he constantly hugs his children to show them the love they need. He also joked that he doesn't overwhelm them with it to the point that they want to get away.

During the event, Maté referred to passages in his book where Harry revisited his childhood memories.

People reported that in those passages, Harry reflected on how he wished his father, King Charles, and grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, had been more physically affectionate.

The Prince also talked about the benefits of Megxit, which refers to the move he and his wife, Meghan Markle, made to California after quitting the royal family in 2020.

Harry said their decision to leave the royal family gave them more agency as parents. They can now raise their children in a way that is beneficial and good for them.

Furthermore, he admitted that their move to California was only possible because they had access to the necessary resources. The Duke of Sussex acknowledged that not everyone has the same resources as them.

How Prince Harry is healing from childhood trauma

The Prince stated that he feels a huge responsibility to ensure that he does not pass on any traumas or negative experiences he's had to his children. He recognizes that this requires putting in the work daily and being mindful of his behavior around his two kids.

He also admitted that he catches himself in moments when he should be showering his children with love, but he is not, reminding himself to do so.

Maté asked him to imagine its impact on his children if they did not receive the physical affection he lacked during his childhood. Harry replied that he did not know the effect but imagined it would be similar.

The Duke of Sussex recognizes the importance of giving his children the love and affection they need to grow up healthy and happy.

Harper's Bazaar also reported that Prince Harry believes that being able to change the root cause of many of his childhood issues gives him and his wife a better chance of bringing up their children in a way that is beneficial and good for them.

The Duke of Sussex acknowledged that he had elements of a great childhood, but some aspects were incredibly painful.