Princess Diana would approve of her son Prince Harry's marriage to U.S. actress Meghan Markle, according to author Andrew Morton whose famous biography of the late royal caused an uproar in Britain some 25 years ago. Like Diana's union to heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles in 1981, Markle and Harry's wedding next month has captivated the world`s media and drawn inevitable comparisons between the two.&nbsp; 
 
And there are indeed many similarities, said Andrew Morton whose explosive book about Diana in 1992 first blew apart the myth of a fairytale marriage and who has now penned "Meghan: A Hollywood Princess", a biography of the new royal-to-be.&nbsp; 
 
"Diana died at 36, Meghan comes into the scene at 36. In a way she's picked up Diana's baton - she's both elegant, she's glamorous and also she's a humanitarian," he told Reuters. "So Diana would have very much have approved of Meghan and seen that kind of working of fate almost." 
 
Morton`s biography of Diana was an international best-seller, revealing her union with Prince Charles was broken beyond repair and that she had suffered eating disorders and been driven to suicide attempts by the misery of her life with Charles. After her death in a Paris car crash in 1997, Morton revealed she had been his prime source and had smuggled tape recordings out of the palace to him. 
 
In his latest book about Markle, which he describes as a snapshot, said a fuller picture would probably emerge in 10 years&nbsp;time, he has had to rely on those who knew her growing up in California where he conveniently has a home, some family members and colleagues as well as people who work at the palace. "I still have my ins there," he said.

 
Extracts from the book include how Ninaki Priddy, a childhood friend of Markle said the actress had been fascinated by the royal family. "She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0," Priddy is quoted as saying.&nbsp; It`s not a description Morton shares. 
 
"Her friend was rather exaggerating," he said. "I think Meghan wants to be Meghan 1.0, that is to say, known for being Meghan not for being in the shadow of somebody else. "That is not to say she was unaware of Harry's mother, who was described as the world's most photographed woman before her death.&nbsp; 
 
"She certainly knew about Diana, she watched the funeral, she was very affected by it, she and her friends collected toys to give to needy children in response," Morton said.&nbsp; 
 
In a TV interview given after their engagement was announced last November, Harry said Markle and his mother would have been best friends and as "thick as thieves", disclosing that the ring he gave his fiancee and which he designed contained diamonds from jewellery once owned by Diana. 
 
HALO RELATIVELY INTACT 
Extracts from Morton's book published in the media have given the impression of Markle as a social climber who has turned her back on friends and even on her first husband in a quest for fame and success, even sending her wedding ring back in the mail. 
&nbsp; 
"Some people have fallen out with her, some people adore her," said Morton, who has also penned biographies of actor Tom Cruise, singer Madonna and Monica Lewinsky, The White House intern whose affair with Bill Clinton almost toppled the U.S. president. 
 
"As people who`ve read the book say, she`s emerged with her halo relatively intact." 
 
Whereas Diana famously found adapting to royal life incredibly difficult, Morton thinks Markle will find the change much simpler. Being photographed on red carpets had prepared her for the royal walkabouts and meeting the public.&nbsp;"I think the royal family has changed. I think the impact of Diana has been to make the royal family more accessible both inside and outside Buckingham Palace," he said. 
 
"Here is a woman who is camera-ready, not camera-shy, a woman who is very confident who is very assertive, who took control of the engagement interview for example. "However, he suggests some royal protocol will be hard to get used to. 
 
"This is a girl who was a gender equality advocate for the United Nations having to bow and courtesy to the queen and even Kate Middleton (wife of Harry's elder brother William) in private occasions," he said. 
 
"I think Meghan will cope but she will find some of the flummery difficult to bear."

UK royal biographer Andrew Morton says Diana would approve of Meghan marriage to her son Prince Harry

Princess Diana would approve of her son Prince Harry's marriage to U.S. actress Meghan Markle, according to author Andrew Morton whose famous biography of the late royal caused an uproar in Britain some 25 years ago. Like Diana's union to heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles in 1981, Markle and Harry's wedding next month has captivated the world`s media and drawn inevitable comparisons between the two. And there are indeed many similarities, said Andrew Morton whose explosive book about Diana in 1992 first blew apart the myth of a fairytale marriage and who has now penned "Meghan: A Hollywood Princess", a biography of the new royal-to-be. "Diana died at 36, Meghan comes into the scene at 36. In a way she's picked up Diana's baton - she's both elegant, she's glamorous and also she's a humanitarian," he told Reuters. "So Diana would have very much have approved of Meghan and seen that kind of working of fate almost." Morton`s biography of Diana was an international best-seller, revealing her union with Prince Charles was broken beyond repair and that she had suffered eating disorders and been driven to suicide attempts by the misery of her life with Charles. After her death in a Paris car crash in 1997, Morton revealed she had been his prime source and had smuggled tape recordings out of the palace to him. In his latest book about Markle, which he describes as a snapshot, said a fuller picture would probably emerge in 10 years time, he has had to rely on those who knew her growing up in California where he conveniently has a home, some family members and colleagues as well as people who work at the palace. "I still have my ins there," he said. Extracts from the book include how Ninaki Priddy, a childhood friend of Markle said the actress had been fascinated by the royal family. "She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0," Priddy is quoted as saying. It`s not a description Morton shares. "Her friend was rather exaggerating," he said. "I think Meghan wants to be Meghan 1.0, that is to say, known for being Meghan not for being in the shadow of somebody else. "That is not to say she was unaware of Harry's mother, who was described as the world's most photographed woman before her death. "She certainly knew about Diana, she watched the funeral, she was very affected by it, she and her friends collected toys to give to needy children in response," Morton said. In a TV interview given after their engagement was announced last November, Harry said Markle and his mother would have been best friends and as "thick as thieves", disclosing that the ring he gave his fiancee and which he designed contained diamonds from jewellery once owned by Diana. HALO RELATIVELY INTACT Extracts from Morton's book published in the media have given the impression of Markle as a social climber who has turned her back on friends and even on her first husband in a quest for fame and success, even sending her wedding ring back in the mail. "Some people have fallen out with her, some people adore her," said Morton, who has also penned biographies of actor Tom Cruise, singer Madonna and Monica Lewinsky, The White House intern whose affair with Bill Clinton almost toppled the U.S. president. "As people who`ve read the book say, she`s emerged with her halo relatively intact." Whereas Diana famously found adapting to royal life incredibly difficult, Morton thinks Markle will find the change much simpler. Being photographed on red carpets had prepared her for the royal walkabouts and meeting the public. "I think the royal family has changed. I think the impact of Diana has been to make the royal family more accessible both inside and outside Buckingham Palace," he said. "Here is a woman who is camera-ready, not camera-shy, a woman who is very confident who is very assertive, who took control of the engagement interview for example. "However, he suggests some royal protocol will be hard to get used to. "This is a girl who was a gender equality advocate for the United Nations having to bow and courtesy to the queen and even Kate Middleton (wife of Harry's elder brother William) in private occasions," he said. "I think Meghan will cope but she will find some of the flummery difficult to bear."

Princess Diana would have approved of her son Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle

From her engagement to Prince Charles as a shy teenager to her roles as doting mother, humanitarian and global celebrity, Diana&#39;s turbulent life still captivates people around the world.

Young, beautiful and fun, she seemed refreshingly informal when she married the heir to the throne in 1981 at age 20, after what the media and palace officials portrayed as a fairytale romance.

But the acrimonious breakdown of her relationship with Charles, during which every salacious detail was played out in the world&#39;s newspapers, would shake the monarchy to the core and drive her to self-harm.

For many people, the public image of Diana remains fixed as she was in an extraordinary 1995 interview in which she spoke out about her feelings over her husband&#39;s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, her own infidelity and her history of self-harm.

The way she spilled secrets, stripping the monarchy of its mystique and casting doubt on Charles&#39;s ability to be king, drew horror in some parts of the British establishment.

But for many ordinary people, her troubles -- revived once again in a slew of new documentaries and interviews -- made her only more popular.

&quot;Like Marilyn Monroe, she has frozen in time. She was like a creature locked in a piece of amber. There forever -- beautiful, young, vulnerable and damaged,&quot; said royal biographer Penny Junor.

Before and after the royal wedding

Born on July 1, 1961, Diana grew up in an aristocratic family with ties to the monarch -- her father worked for the late king George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

She grew up with three siblings, in a childhood marred by the bitter break-up of her parents.

She left school at 16 with no qualifications and went to finishing school in Switzerland, before getting a job in a nursery in London.

From the moment she was linked to Charles, however, her life changed.

The prince was under increasing pressure to find a bride, and at the age of 32, he proposed -- perhaps too soon.

Diana said they only met 13 times before their wedding.

She quickly fulfilled her primary duty as princess, with the birth of an heir, William, the following year, followed by Harry two years later.

Diana was a hands-on, adoring mother, and also possessed a remarkable empathy that drew people to her. Coupled with a strong sense of style, she rode a wave of popular and media enthusiasm for the monarchy.

She used her position to champion some of the most marginalised groups in society, shaking hands with patients with AIDS and leprosy, who were viewed as pariahs at the time.

But beneath the surface, she was in turmoil, plagued by bulimia and wracked by self-doubt made worse by the feeling that her husband did not love her -- and the rest of the royals did not care.

End of a fairytale 
 
Rumours that the marriage was in trouble broke into the open in 1992, after Andrew Morton lifted the lid on Diana&#39;s misery with a revelatory book, tactically endorsed by the princess herself.

That year ended with the bombshell announcement that the royal couple would separate.

The scandal only deepened with further recriminations and allegations appearing in the media, before first Charles and then Diana admitted to being unfaithful.

In her 1995 interview with the BBC&#39;s Panorama programme, Diana gave her version of events, admitting her affair with army officer James Hewitt, but also criticising the royals and questioning her husband&#39;s ability to be king.

This crossed a line. A few weeks later, the queen, who had already publicly expressed her sadness at the situation, wrote to both Charles and Diana urging them to seek a divorce.

On August 28, 1996, the divorce was granted and Diana was stripped of her title of Her Royal Highness. The fairytale was over.

End of an era 
 
Still a princess, Diana remained in the public eye.

She found new love in Dodi Fayed, the son of millionaire businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, who was also killed with her on August 31, 1997, as their car was chased by paparazzi through the streets of Paris.

The outpouring of public grief was immense.

Millions of flowers were left outside her home at Kensington Palace, and thousands lined the streets of London to pay their last respects at her funeral.

Much of the popular anger over her death was directed at the royal family, fuelled by the queen&#39;s initial refusal to return to London to greet the crowds, and there was a surge of republicanism.

Two decades on, public support for the monarchy is as strong as ever and Charles -- with Camilla -- has to a large extent been rehabilitated.

But neither will likely ever match the popularity of his first wife, the self-styled &quot;queen of people&#39;s hearts&quot;.

In her interview in 1995, Diana gave her version of events, admitting her affair with an army, but also criticising the royals and questioning her husband's ability to be king.

From her engagement to Prince Charles as a shy teenager to her roles as doting mother, humanitarian and global celebrity, Diana's turbulent life still captivates people around the world. Young, beautiful and fun, she seemed refreshingly informal when she married the heir to the throne in 1981 at age 20, after what the media and palace officials portrayed as a fairytale romance. But the acrimonious breakdown of her relationship with Charles, during which every salacious detail was played out in the world's newspapers, would shake the monarchy to the core and drive her to self-harm. For many people, the public image of Diana remains fixed as she was in an extraordinary 1995 interview in which she spoke out about her feelings over her husband's affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, her own infidelity and her history of self-harm. The way she spilled secrets, stripping the monarchy of its mystique and casting doubt on Charles's ability to be king, drew horror in some parts of the British establishment. But for many ordinary people, her troubles -- revived once again in a slew of new documentaries and interviews -- made her only more popular. "Like Marilyn Monroe, she has frozen in time. She was like a creature locked in a piece of amber. There forever -- beautiful, young, vulnerable and damaged," said royal biographer Penny Junor. Before and after the royal wedding Born on July 1, 1961, Diana grew up in an aristocratic family with ties to the monarch -- her father worked for the late king George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. She grew up with three siblings, in a childhood marred by the bitter break-up of her parents. She left school at 16 with no qualifications and went to finishing school in Switzerland, before getting a job in a nursery in London. From the moment she was linked to Charles, however, her life changed. The prince was under increasing pressure to find a bride, and at the age of 32, he proposed -- perhaps too soon. Diana said they only met 13 times before their wedding. She quickly fulfilled her primary duty as princess, with the birth of an heir, William, the following year, followed by Harry two years later. Diana was a hands-on, adoring mother, and also possessed a remarkable empathy that drew people to her. Coupled with a strong sense of style, she rode a wave of popular and media enthusiasm for the monarchy. She used her position to champion some of the most marginalised groups in society, shaking hands with patients with AIDS and leprosy, who were viewed as pariahs at the time. But beneath the surface, she was in turmoil, plagued by bulimia and wracked by self-doubt made worse by the feeling that her husband did not love her -- and the rest of the royals did not care. End of a fairytale Rumours that the marriage was in trouble broke into the open in 1992, after Andrew Morton lifted the lid on Diana's misery with a revelatory book, tactically endorsed by the princess herself. That year ended with the bombshell announcement that the royal couple would separate. The scandal only deepened with further recriminations and allegations appearing in the media, before first Charles and then Diana admitted to being unfaithful. In her 1995 interview with the BBC's Panorama programme, Diana gave her version of events, admitting her affair with army officer James Hewitt, but also criticising the royals and questioning her husband's ability to be king. This crossed a line. A few weeks later, the queen, who had already publicly expressed her sadness at the situation, wrote to both Charles and Diana urging them to seek a divorce. On August 28, 1996, the divorce was granted and Diana was stripped of her title of Her Royal Highness. The fairytale was over. End of an era Still a princess, Diana remained in the public eye. She found new love in Dodi Fayed, the son of millionaire businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, who was also killed with her on August 31, 1997, as their car was chased by paparazzi through the streets of Paris. The outpouring of public grief was immense. Millions of flowers were left outside her home at Kensington Palace, and thousands lined the streets of London to pay their last respects at her funeral. Much of the popular anger over her death was directed at the royal family, fuelled by the queen's initial refusal to return to London to greet the crowds, and there was a surge of republicanism. Two decades on, public support for the monarchy is as strong as ever and Charles -- with Camilla -- has to a large extent been rehabilitated. But neither will likely ever match the popularity of his first wife, the self-styled "queen of people's hearts".

'Frozen in time': Princess Diana's fairytale ended in tragedy

Two decades on from the death of princess Diana, her sons Princes William and Harry are working to keep her legacy alive with unusually emotional tributes after years of official silence.

As the 20th anniversary of her death on August 31 approaches, the brothers have opened up for the first time about their mother, her life, and her impact on them and on the causes she championed.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/the-secret-life-of-diana-queen-of-hearts-378">Also see:&nbsp;The secret life of Diana, Queen of Hearts</a>

William was 15 and Harry 12 when Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

How deeply their loss affected them is something they have only recently begun to discuss.

&quot;Twenty years on, Harry and I felt that it was an appropriate time to open up a bit more about our mother,&quot; William said.

&quot;We won&#39;t speak as openly or publicly about her again.&quot;

The pair featured in a 90-minute programme entitled &quot;Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy&quot; broadcast by British channel ITV earlier this year.

&quot;This is the first time that the two of us have ever spoken about her as a mother. Arguably, probably a little bit too raw up until this point. It&#39;s still raw,&quot; said Harry.

Harry recently revealed that he sought help in the last few years as he struggled to deal with his suppressed grief.

Celebrating Diana&#39;s life

In 2007, the princes staged a benefit concert at Wembley Stadium and a memorial service at which Harry gave a tribute.

But this year marks the first time that the brothers have spoken in such emotional depth.

In an interview with Newsweek magazine, Harry opened up about the trauma of having to walk behind his mother&#39;s coffin through London for her funeral.

&quot;I don&#39;t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don&#39;t think it would happen today,&quot; he said.

In those tense days 20 years ago, many Britons voiced anger at a perceived lack of empathy from the royal establishment.

Some feel the royals have been happy to see Diana replaced in the limelight.

Patrick Jephson, Diana&#39;s former private secretary, said the princess had been airbrushed out.

&quot;There had been a period since her death during which the royal establishment has been uncertain how to treat the memory of Diana,&quot; he told AFP.

&quot;For much of the last two decades she has been the name that cannot be spoken in royal circles.

&quot;Therefore it is with a note of slight defiance and determination that her children have said &#39;no, there&#39;s lots of good to remember, let&#39;s celebrate her life&#39;.&quot;

Kensington statue planned

The brothers have commissioned a statue of Diana which will go in the public grounds of Kensington Palace, their home which was also their mother&#39;s base.

A garden has been created at the London palace in her honour.

The princes also attended a private service on July 1 to rededicate their mother&#39;s grave at her ancestral home on what would have been her 56th birthday.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the world&#39;s Anglicans, officiated at the grave, to which the public does not have access.

In their royal duties, William, 35, and Harry, 32, have also taken up the baton for their mother&#39;s causes.

Diana&#39;s visit to a minefield in Angola helped the movement towards the 1997 landmine ban treaty.

In the 1980s, during bedside visits to AIDS patients, she made a point making physical contact. It was a remarkable gesture at the time that helped break down the stigma attached to the disease.

Harry&#39;s push on landmine clearance and HIV testing are directly aimed at continuing his mother&#39;s campaigns, as is William&#39;s work with homeless shelters and on child bereavement.

Their joint work on mental health -- which saw Harry reveal his need for treatment to cope with the trauma of her death -- also touches a cause Diana championed.

Harry said the princes wondered what Diana would be doing now were she still alive.

&quot;There&#39;s not a day that William and I don&#39;t wish that she was still around. We wonder what kind of a mother she would be now and what kind of a public role she would have and what a difference she would be making,&quot; he said.

Jephson said Diana&#39;s greatest legacy was her sons themselves.

He said: &quot;We can see in them many of the attributes that she had -- principally her ability to combine royalty with the common touch.&quot;

The brothers have commissioned a statue of Diana which will go in the public grounds of Kensington Palace, their home which was also their mother's base

Two decades on from the death of princess Diana, her sons Princes William and Harry are working to keep her legacy alive with unusually emotional tributes after years of official silence. As the 20th anniversary of her death on August 31 approaches, the brothers have opened up for the first time about their mother, her life, and her impact on them and on the causes she championed. Also see: The secret life of Diana, Queen of Hearts William was 15 and Harry 12 when Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. How deeply their loss affected them is something they have only recently begun to discuss. "Twenty years on, Harry and I felt that it was an appropriate time to open up a bit more about our mother," William said. "We won't speak as openly or publicly about her again." The pair featured in a 90-minute programme entitled "Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy" broadcast by British channel ITV earlier this year. "This is the first time that the two of us have ever spoken about her as a mother. Arguably, probably a little bit too raw up until this point. It's still raw," said Harry. Harry recently revealed that he sought help in the last few years as he struggled to deal with his suppressed grief. Celebrating Diana's life In 2007, the princes staged a benefit concert at Wembley Stadium and a memorial service at which Harry gave a tribute. But this year marks the first time that the brothers have spoken in such emotional depth. In an interview with Newsweek magazine, Harry opened up about the trauma of having to walk behind his mother's coffin through London for her funeral. "I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today," he said. In those tense days 20 years ago, many Britons voiced anger at a perceived lack of empathy from the royal establishment. Some feel the royals have been happy to see Diana replaced in the limelight. Patrick Jephson, Diana's former private secretary, said the princess had been airbrushed out. "There had been a period since her death during which the royal establishment has been uncertain how to treat the memory of Diana," he told AFP. "For much of the last two decades she has been the name that cannot be spoken in royal circles. "Therefore it is with a note of slight defiance and determination that her children have said 'no, there's lots of good to remember, let's celebrate her life'." Kensington statue planned The brothers have commissioned a statue of Diana which will go in the public grounds of Kensington Palace, their home which was also their mother's base. A garden has been created at the London palace in her honour. The princes also attended a private service on July 1 to rededicate their mother's grave at her ancestral home on what would have been her 56th birthday. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the world's Anglicans, officiated at the grave, to which the public does not have access. In their royal duties, William, 35, and Harry, 32, have also taken up the baton for their mother's causes. Diana's visit to a minefield in Angola helped the movement towards the 1997 landmine ban treaty. In the 1980s, during bedside visits to AIDS patients, she made a point making physical contact. It was a remarkable gesture at the time that helped break down the stigma attached to the disease. Harry's push on landmine clearance and HIV testing are directly aimed at continuing his mother's campaigns, as is William's work with homeless shelters and on child bereavement. Their joint work on mental health -- which saw Harry reveal his need for treatment to cope with the trauma of her death -- also touches a cause Diana championed. Harry said the princes wondered what Diana would be doing now were she still alive. "There's not a day that William and I don't wish that she was still around. We wonder what kind of a mother she would be now and what kind of a public role she would have and what a difference she would be making," he said. Jephson said Diana's greatest legacy was her sons themselves. He said: "We can see in them many of the attributes that she had -- principally her ability to combine royalty with the common touch."

20 years on, William and Harry lead tributes to mother Diana

Britain&#39;s Prince Harry suffered &quot;total chaos&quot; before eventually seeking help to deal with the death of his mother Princess Diana, he said in an interview published Monday.

Speaking to The Telegraph newspaper, the 32-year-old prince said he had spent years trying to ignore his emotions following Diana&#39;s death in 1997 when he was just 12.

&quot;My way of dealing with it was sticking my head in the sand, refusing to ever think about my mum, because why would that help? It&#39;s only going to make you sad. It&#39;s not going to bring her back,&quot; he said.

It was not until the age of 28 that he sought help from mental health professionals after encouragement from others, including &quot;huge support&quot; from his older brother Prince William.

&quot;It was 20 years of not thinking about it and then two years of total chaos...I didn&#39;t know what was wrong with me,&quot; he said.

While Harry has referred to grief in the past and supported mental health charities, he is acutely sensitive about media attention and it is rare for him to speak openly about his personal experience.

Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed were killed in a car crash in a Paris underpass on August 31, 1997, along with their French driver Henri Paul as they tried to outrun chasing photographers.

Her death triggered a mass outpouring of public grief and Harry walked behind her coffin during a funeral which was broadcast around the world.

Harry said he recently confronted the grief of losing his mother as well as tackling the pressures of a royal life including overcoming a feeling of &quot;fight or flight&quot; during engagements.

&quot;I generally don&#39;t know how we (royals) stay sane. I don&#39;t have any secrets, I&#39;ve probably been very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions,&quot; he said.

&nbsp;

Boxing &#39;saved me&#39;&nbsp;

During a decade in the British army Harry served twice in Afghanistan and went on to meet soldiers in a recovery unit, an experience he said had an impact on his health.

&quot;You park your own issues, because of what you are confronted with,&quot; he told The Telegraph.

Describing himself as &quot;a problem&quot; through much of his twenties, Harry said as well as seeking treatment he found taking up boxing helped.

&quot;Everyone was saying boxing&#39;s good for you and it&#39;s really good for letting out aggression. That really saved me, because I was on the verge of punching someone. Being able to punch someone with pads was certainly easier,&quot; he said.

Prince William and his wife Kate are campaigning along with Harry to end stigma around mental health, supporting charities through their Heads Together initiative.

Harry said once he started talking about how he felt he discovered he was &quot;part of quite a big club&quot; and encouraged others to open up.

&quot;What we&#39;re trying to do is normalise the conversation to the point of where anyone can sit down and have a coffee and say, &#39;You know what, I&#39;ve had a really sh*t day. Can I just tell you about it?&#39;&quot; he said.

(AFP)

Only 16 years later did he seek help from mental health professionals after 'huge support' from his older brother, Prince William

Britain's Prince Harry suffered "total chaos" before eventually seeking help to deal with the death of his mother Princess Diana, he said in an interview published Monday. Speaking to The Telegraph newspaper, the 32-year-old prince said he had spent years trying to ignore his emotions following Diana's death in 1997 when he was just 12. "My way of dealing with it was sticking my head in the sand, refusing to ever think about my mum, because why would that help? It's only going to make you sad. It's not going to bring her back," he said. It was not until the age of 28 that he sought help from mental health professionals after encouragement from others, including "huge support" from his older brother Prince William. "It was 20 years of not thinking about it and then two years of total chaos...I didn't know what was wrong with me," he said. While Harry has referred to grief in the past and supported mental health charities, he is acutely sensitive about media attention and it is rare for him to speak openly about his personal experience. Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed were killed in a car crash in a Paris underpass on August 31, 1997, along with their French driver Henri Paul as they tried to outrun chasing photographers. Her death triggered a mass outpouring of public grief and Harry walked behind her coffin during a funeral which was broadcast around the world. Harry said he recently confronted the grief of losing his mother as well as tackling the pressures of a royal life including overcoming a feeling of "fight or flight" during engagements. "I generally don't know how we (royals) stay sane. I don't have any secrets, I've probably been very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions," he said. Boxing 'saved me' During a decade in the British army Harry served twice in Afghanistan and went on to meet soldiers in a recovery unit, an experience he said had an impact on his health. "You park your own issues, because of what you are confronted with," he told The Telegraph. Describing himself as "a problem" through much of his twenties, Harry said as well as seeking treatment he found taking up boxing helped. "Everyone was saying boxing's good for you and it's really good for letting out aggression. That really saved me, because I was on the verge of punching someone. Being able to punch someone with pads was certainly easier," he said. Prince William and his wife Kate are campaigning along with Harry to end stigma around mental health, supporting charities through their Heads Together initiative. Harry said once he started talking about how he felt he discovered he was "part of quite a big club" and encouraged others to open up. "What we're trying to do is normalise the conversation to the point of where anyone can sit down and have a coffee and say, 'You know what, I've had a really sh*t day. Can I just tell you about it?'" he said. (AFP)

Prince Harry suffered 'total chaos' over Diana's death

Britain&#39;s Prince William and his younger brother Harry have commissioned a statue in honour of their mother Princess Diana who died in a Paris car crash 20 years ago to be erected outside their official London home, their office said on Saturday.

Diana, the first wife of the brother&#39;s father the heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, was killed when the limousine carrying her and her lover Dodi al-Fayed crashed in a Paris tunnel in August 1997.

William was 15 and Harry was 12 at the time.

&quot;It has been 20 years since our mother&#39;s death and the time is right to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue,&quot; William, 34, said in a statement.

The princes have formed a committee to advise on the sculptor and to raise private funds to pay for the statue which will be located in a public garden at Kensington Palace.

Work on the statue will begin soon and it is hoped that the statue will be unveiled before the end of the year, the statement from their office said.

The first permanent memorial to her, a 210-metre (689-foot) long fountain was unveiled in Hyde Park in 2004 after years of bureaucratic wrangling and squabbling over the design.

It had to be closed down a number of times after its opening and a committee of lawmakers later said it was &quot;ill-conceived and ill-executed&quot;.

William announced earlier this month that he would move into Kensington Palace with his wife Kate and children, George and Charlotte, from his current home in eastern England when he gives up his job as an air ambulance pilot to focus on royal duties full-time later this year.

(Reuters)

The statue will be located in a public garden at Kensington Palace

Britain's Prince William and his younger brother Harry have commissioned a statue in honour of their mother Princess Diana who died in a Paris car crash 20 years ago to be erected outside their official London home, their office said on Saturday. Diana, the first wife of the brother's father the heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, was killed when the limousine carrying her and her lover Dodi al-Fayed crashed in a Paris tunnel in August 1997. William was 15 and Harry was 12 at the time. "It has been 20 years since our mother's death and the time is right to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue," William, 34, said in a statement. The princes have formed a committee to advise on the sculptor and to raise private funds to pay for the statue which will be located in a public garden at Kensington Palace. Work on the statue will begin soon and it is hoped that the statue will be unveiled before the end of the year, the statement from their office said. The first permanent memorial to her, a 210-metre (689-foot) long fountain was unveiled in Hyde Park in 2004 after years of bureaucratic wrangling and squabbling over the design. It had to be closed down a number of times after its opening and a committee of lawmakers later said it was "ill-conceived and ill-executed". William announced earlier this month that he would move into Kensington Palace with his wife Kate and children, George and Charlotte, from his current home in eastern England when he gives up his job as an air ambulance pilot to focus on royal duties full-time later this year. (Reuters)

UK princes commission statue to honour late mother Princess Diana

princess-diana

Princess Diana, News on Princess Diana, stories on Princess Diana, articles on Princess Diana, Princess Diana stories at Wion, Princess Diana news, Princess Diana latest news

princess diana

Princess Diana would have approved of her son Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle

'Frozen in time': Princess Diana's fairytale ended in tragedy

20 years on, William and Harry lead tributes to mother Diana

Prince Harry suffered 'total chaos' over Diana's death

UK princes commission statue to honour late mother Princess Diana