Prince Harry says his mindset has shifted in one huge way now that he’s a dad
Obviously having a baby is a transformative moment for all parents (one would hope!) and Prince Harry, new father to two-month-old Archie, is delighting in this big change.
“As a father”
Wee Archie is due to be christened this Saturday in what will apparently be a private ceremony, but that doesn’t mean that Harry’s not keen to chat about his adorable baby boy.
This week he spoke at the National Youth Mentoring Summit, just one day after his mother the late Princess Diana’s birthday.
As Harry presented The Diana Award much of his speech was centred on the impact parents’ behaviour has on their children, his life with Archie, and his own mum too.
Harry likened parenting to an early mentor/mentee relationship, paying tribute to “the invisible role model, the person who may be sitting here today that doesn’t realise that someone looks up to them.”
He noted that he was feeling the responsibilities of fatherhood acutely and was particularly keen to live the sort of life that Archie would be proud of, and even emulate.
“Perhaps it’s the newfound clarity I have as a father,” Harry told assembled guests, “knowing my son will always be watching what I do, mimicking my behaviour, one day maybe even following in my footsteps.”
Watch and learn
Harry noted that this role modelling dynamic was all around us, and often went unnoticed.
“But it’s not just my role as a father that shows me that; it’s in the people I see every day that don’t realize how inspirational they are to those watching. You don’t have to be a princess or a public figure to be a role model, in fact it’s equally valuable if you’re not because it’s more relatable.”
As he honoured the award recipient, he spoke of its namesake, his beloved mum who very sadly didn’t get to meet any of her grandchildren.
“To the mentees here today, I am incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved, and I can safely say that my mother, who would have turned 58 yesterday, would feel the same.”
How blinking lovely. Bless him.