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Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry turned to MI6 therapists to help with his mental health, royal insider claims
Prince Harry 's former therapist worked with MI6, a royal insider has claimed. Writing in her best-selling book The Palace Papers, royal biographer Tina Brown claims the Duke of Sussex's then-girlfriend Cressida Bonas encouraged him to visit a mental health professional after she witnessed Harry's 'explosive temperament'. Brown wrote: 'Cressida began to have serious worries about his mental health. It is not widely known that it was she who first persuaded Harry to see a therapist.' A family friend told Brown that Cressida forced the Duke to 'accept he has problems and see a psychoanalyst'. Harry then turned to Julia Samuel for support - a therapist who was Princess Diana 's friend and worked as an NHS bereavement counsellor. But the reason Julia was so helpful to Harry was her connection to MI6, where she advised secret service staff - meaning she was capable of being 'discreet'. Brown claims a person close to Harry said: 'There was a need for someone who could be incredibly discreet and who understood what it's like to have a public version of your life and a private version. 'Therapists at MI6, that's what they do.' It was through therapy that Harry finally unpicked the trauma caused by Princess Diana's death, which happened when the Duke was just 12 years old. 'He at last understood his own evasion of sorrow in tactics that ranged from champagne hooliganism to "sticking my head in the sand, refusing to ever think about my mum, because why would that help?",' Brown wrote. Cressida encouraged Harry to seek help after seeing this behaviour on several occasions, documented by Brown. This included a pub lunch on New Year's Day in Kidlington near Oxford, when Harry lashed out an elderly man who asked the Duke for a picture. Brown was told by someone 'privy to the incident' that Harry told the gentleman to 'get out of my why' before he went 'bright red in the face and stormed off in a huff'. Prince Harry's wife, the Duchess of Sussex, has also been candid about her mental health battles. During a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan revealed the stress of royal life made her suicidal when she was five-months pregnant. The Duchess of Sussex revealed she 'couldn't be left alone' and told her husband she 'didn't want to be alive anymore' before claiming Buckingham Palace staff ignored her plea for help because she wasn't a 'paid employee'. Describing how she considered ending her life, believing it 'was better for everyone', Meghan said: 'I knew that if I didn't say it, that I would do it. I just didn't want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear, real and frightening constant thought. 'I remember how he just cradled me. I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help. I said that "I've never felt this way before, and I need to go somewhere". And I was told that I couldn't, that it wouldn't be good for the institution.' She said that, after confiding in her husband, she was forced to go to the Royal Albert Hall for a charity event in January 2019 - claiming photos from that night 'haunt' her. Harry and Cressida dated for two years before they split in 2014. Brown claims the model's 'serious qualms about sharing her life with Harry' and his 'frequent' and 'childlike' outbursts contributed the break down in the relationship. She was his last serious relationship before Meghan and Cressida was an almighty hit with the entire Royal Family. Charles even labelled her as the 'one that got away', a source told Brown. Cressida is the daughter of Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon – who once famously posed apparently topless, smeared in motor oil – and Old Harrovian Jeffrey Bonas (her mother's third husband) who owns a fabric company called MacCulloch & Wallis. Harry and Cressida dated for two years before they split in 2014. Brown claims that the model's 'serious qualms about sharing her life with Harry' and his 'frequent' and 'childlike' outbursts contributed to the break down in the relationship She was also athletic, winning a sports scholarship to Prior Park College in Bath before attending the co-ed boarding school Stowe. After school she studied dance at Leeds University and later pursued acting as well as modelling for Mulberry. Throughout her relationship with Harry, the couple went on trips to Switzerland, attended concerts and were even spotted on date nights at restaurants. Brown wrote she was Harry's guest at Sandringham for shooting weekends and blended easily with his friends. Cressida also passed the Africa test on a successful holiday with the prince in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Today, the Hampshire-born 'It-Girl', who is expecting her second baby with husband Harry Wentworth-Stanley, 35, has moved into writing and podcasting - with her social media feed turning from artsy selfies to wholesome snaps with her two-year-old son. She launched her podcast Lessons From Our Mothers, hosted with her half-sister, Isabella Branson, earlier this year. The podcast is billed as a 'conversations that celebrate motherhood and mothering in all its forms'. The series features cameos from a variety of A-listers, including the likes of Kate Winslet, Giovanna Fletcher and Mary Berry - who made the duo a tasty homemade cake and a cup of tea. Cressida's close friend Princess Eugenie, who was the brains behind her match with Harry, will also speak as a guest. A sneak preview posted on the podcast's Instagram account saw Eugenie, 35, speak touchingly about her own mother, Sarah Ferguson. 'What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your mum?' Cressida asked.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Renowned therapists announced for Change Your Mind, Change Your Life with Matt and Emma Willis
(Image: Twenty Twenty productions) Matt and Emma Willis bring Change your Mind, Change your Life to BBC One and iPlayer later this month. The duo bring together a team of leading therapists who've agreed to open the doors to their work. From Bristol-based Twenty Twenty Productions (known for the award-winning A House Through Time and the BAFTA-winning First Dates) and co-produced by The Open University, the series will follow people across the UK as they confront the problems they face, exploring if therapy can help transform their lives. Full of tips on how to tackle everyday challenges, Change your Mind, Change your Life reveals the power of opening up. The renowned therapists involved in the show are - Owen O'Kane A highly respected psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience, Owen O'Kane is known for his expertise in addressing a variety of psychological disorders including depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress and is a best-selling author and regular podcast guest. Julia Samuel MBE With 30 years of experience, Julia Samuel is a leading figure in the field of psychotherapy, specializing in grief and loss. As the author of three best-selling books, Julia has helped countless individuals navigate the complexities of bereavement. Professor Steve Peters Professor Steve Peters, a Consultant Psychiatrist, is one of the most recognised names in the field of mental health and human performance. Known for his best-selling book, Steve is celebrated for his work with elite athletes such as Olympian Chris Hoy and World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. Dr. Fatoumata Jatta A principal clinical psychologist and transformational life coach, Dr. Fatoumata Jatta brings a wealth of knowledge to the series. With experience in both the public and private sectors, Dr. Jatta works with individuals facing a wide range of challenges, including stress, trauma, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. The series (4x40) will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer from Tuesday 13th May and will be a key part of the BBC's Wellbeing week, which aims to bring audiences a range of mental health and wellbeing content across the breadth of BBC services (TV, iPlayer, Radio, BBC Sounds, News, Social Media) that highlight stories of those who have faced mental health struggles, as well as helping audiences understand how to look after their mental health, and where to go for further support. Change Your Mind, Change Your Life was commissioned by Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries. The Exec producers are Ruth Kelly and Lucy Morgan for Twenty Twenty. The Series Producer is Ian Osprey and the Series Director is Nick Hardie. The BBC commissioner is Beejal-Maya Patel. It is co-produced by The Open University. Read more: Matt and Emma Willis explore the power of therapy and opening up in Change Your Mind, Change Your Life - "We've both experienced first hand the effects that it can have" Latest from the Media Centre All news Show more
