Prince Harry was just 12 years old when he lost his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. Nearly three decades later, the Duke of Sussex still wishes he could go back and change one conversation they had before her death.
In a deeply moving interview with GQ published Tuesday, October 20, Harry, 42, reflected on the guilt he carried over their final phone call, admitting he was too young to understand how precious those last moments would become.
The royal explained that becoming a father eventually helped him come to terms with the painful memory.
Prince Harry Reveals His Biggest Regret About Princess Diana
Harry recalled that his last conversation with Diana, who was 36 when she died in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997, had been brief because he was eager to return to playing with his cousins.
“I had a mom taken away from me too soon. I have spoken openly about one of my biggest regrets is that last phone call I had with her,” he told GQ.
“If I had known it was the last call with her, how different that conversation would be,” Harry continued. “And I’m the one that has to live with that.”
Looking back, the Duke acknowledged he was simply a child with no way of knowing what would happen.
He also revealed that the guilt became easier to manage after he had children of his own.
Prince Harry Opens Up About Grieving His Mother in Public
Harry admitted that losing Diana in such a public tragedy made his grief particularly difficult to navigate.
Even today, strangers approach him with memories of where they were when they learned of her death.
The Duke explained that people often express disbelief that he and his brother, Prince William, were so young when their mother died.
While the world mourned Diana, Harry was left trying to understand the loss of a parent.
Prince Harry Recalls Years of Emotional Numbness
Earlier this month, Harry discussed his struggles with grief in a MasterClass session titled “Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss.”
The father of two admitted that he spent years feeling emotionally numb and struggled to allow himself to experience happiness without guilt.
He also revealed that he sometimes looks at an old portrait of Diana and imagines what she might think of his life today.
“I can actually get eye contact from her, and there’s a cheekiness in her smile… I just feel very connected to her,” he shared.
Harry said realizing that his mother would have wanted him to be happy changed his outlook on life.
Prince Harry Finds Comfort in Fatherhood and Family
Harry, who shares Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, with Meghan Markle, has continued to speak publicly about grief in hopes of helping others through similar experiences.
The Duke recently returned to Britain with Meghan, 45, and their children after six years in California.
In his GQ interview, Harry explained that the family’s move would let their children attend school in Britain and live closer to relatives.
Despite his strained relationships with William and King Charles III, the royal expressed hope for reconciliation.
Harry also said he wants his experiences to encourage others who are struggling with loss, emphasizing that even after years of pain, healing remains possible.
Prince Harry Admits One Regret Over Princess Diana’s Death Still Haunts Him