Prince Harry uses this parenting tip from Princess Diana: ‘If a day is hard, one thing I will do is squeeze my kids that extra’
Prince Harry offered a poignant insight into his parenting, revealing he mirrors the affectionate approach of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, when interacting with his own children. The Duke recalled how Diana would hug him and his brother, the Prince of Wales, “as tight as possible,” a gesture he now extends to his son and daughter after a challenging day.On a recent podcast, Harry shared this meaningful moment just before his children, Prince Archie (seven) and Princess Lilibet (five), visited their grandfather, the King. It marked their first meeting in four years, making the occasion even more significant for the family. The Duke has been warm and honest in the interview he gave Celebrity Traitors star and former England rugby union forward Joe Marler about his parenting philosophy.
A parenting philosophy rooted in love
“The resilience of kids is amazing, and the way they view life is so incredibly refreshing,” Harry said on the Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast. He went on to explain his daily practice. “And if a day is hard, one thing I will do is always squeeze my kids that extra, extra tight.” This easy but effective act reveals the strong influence of the way Diana has raised her children on Harry’s own parenting.
Harry shared that on difficult days, he hugs Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet even tighter, inspired by the way Princess Diana comforted her sons.Image credit (Instagram)
Light-hearted moments during the interview
In the fast-paced light-hearted podcast, Harry answered a stream of questions in the style of a mock therapy session hosted by “Dr Marler”. When asked to give his full name, he replied “Henry Charles Albert David, Duke of Sussex” and joked that his hair was not “ginger” but “auburn”. When asked to name his favourite trashy TV show, he replied “Love Island”, adding “I don’t watch Love Island, I have watched Love Island.” Asked which other Harry he would be for the day between “Harry Styles, Harry Kane or Harry Potter”, he said “Kane on a winning day”. He gave his prediction about England’s chances at the World Cup, saying “I think it’s coming home, not going to be easy, never is.”
During a candid podcast conversation, Prince Harry reflected on fatherhood, childhood memories and the importance of love, routine and emotional support in raising children.Image credit (Instagram)
Personal habits and wellness routines
When asked about his grooming regime, he replied “s***, shave, shower” and explained “I trim my beard every five or six days, just to keep it a little bit tidy”. The balding duke added with humour “Nothing really happening on top, I get a hair cut, otherwise I try not to look at what’s happening.”The questions became more serious when he was asked how he dealt with trauma. Harry replied “exercise, sport and being able to find the time to take yourself somewhere, do something.Repetition is great, have a routine.” He added “Boxing, another thing that I really enjoy, just to let the aggression out, get a sweat on. To me it’s always about getting a sweat on.”Harry and Meghan Markle live in Montecito, California, with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after stepping back as senior working members of the British royal family in 2020.
