“Experienced This Adrenaline Crash”- Prince Harry on Mental Health Struggles in Canada With Meghan Markle

Published 10/08/2026, 10:00 AM EDT

(190508) -- WINDSOR, May 8, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (R), and his wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, pose for a photo with their son in St George s Hall at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, on May 8, 2019. The baby boy, who is Queen Elizabeth's eighth great-grandchild, is seventh in line to the throne, behind the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and his children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - and Prince Harry. (Xinhua Dominic Lipinski PA Wire) BRITAIN-WINDSOR-ROYALS-BABY

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shocked the world when they skipped the annual Christmas at Sandringham in late November 2019. Instead, they jetted off to Canada with their then-seven-month-old son. The couple were looking for some much-needed peace and privacy away from the relentless media scrutiny they faced in the UK.

What was billed as a six-week family getaway, however, soon became a turning point in their royal lives. The getaway soon proved to be far more than a simple family break. The trip marked the beginning of the end of their lives as senior working royals, while the mounting pressure took a toll on Prince Harry’s mental well-being.

Prince Harry had a depressive episode in Canada

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In a new MasterClass released on October 8 and titled, Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, Prince Harry recalled experiencing an “adrenaline crash” just days after arriving in Canada in late 2019. He said it came after years of living in what he described as a highly stressful environment.

"Being in Canada, away from the stressful environment where presumably my body was just pumped full of adrenaline, within two or three days, I experienced this adrenaline crash, something that I’d never experienced before,” Prince Harry said.

via Imago

Prince Harry recalled that without the constant adrenaline rush, he found himself struggling to function, eventually slipping into what he described as a two-week depressive episode (via PEOPLE). The couple spent the final stretch of the year in Canada with their baby son before announcing their plans to step back as senior working royals in January 2020.

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Six years later, the Sussexes made an unexpected move again by relocating back to the UK.

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In late August 2026, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle packed up their Montecito life and quietly boarded a private flight to England. According to reports, the family has since settled into a private, non-royal residence tucked away in the picturesque Cotswolds countryside. The King and the Queen reportedly held a family meeting with them shortly after their arrival. The children are also enrolled at an unnamed private UK day school. 

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via Imago

Despite the warm welcome, King Charles directed the head of the Royal Household to issue an official letter to UK government and military stakeholders, making it clear that the Sussexes remain private citizens and non-working royals. The couple will not undertake official royal duties or use their HRH titles for their commercial or charitable ventures.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Get New TV Spotlight With Fresh Behind-the-Scenes Look at Their UK Return

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What do you think about Prince Harry's Canada episode? Let us know in the comments!

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Hriddhi Maitra

2362 articles

Hriddhi Maitra is an Entertainment Journalist and Primary Editor at Netflix Junkie. With over 2,000 articles under her belt, she blends her English Literature background with a flair for turning streaming trends into engaging, reference-rich stories. Hriddhi's sharp editorial instincts and versatility across genres make her a go-to voice for everything from on-screen drama to deep-dive cultural commentary.

Edited By: Adiba Nizami

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