Prince William: 'Stiff upper lip can harm your health'
Duke of Cambridge wants Prince George and Princess Charlotte to be 'able to talk about emotions'
Prince William wants Brits to lose the "stiff upper lip", saying it can lead to mental health issues.
Speaking to mental health campaign Calm, the Duke of Cambridge said he wants his children Prince George and Princess Charlotte to grow up being able to talk about their emotions.
"There may be a time and a place for the 'stiff upper lip', but not at the expense of your health," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
During the interview with CALMzine, Prince said he had been "amazed" to hear children talking openly about "difficult subjects" when visiting schools with his wife Kate Middleton.
He said: "Seeing this has really given me hope things are changing and there is a generation coming up who find it normal to talk openly about emotions."
These were the life skills he hoped to instil in his own children, he said: "Catherine and I are clear we want both George and Charlotte to grow up feeling able to talk about their emotions and feelings."
William also praised grime musician Stormzy for speaking about his depression, saying his interview was "incredibly powerful" and would help young men "feel that it's a sign of strength to talk about and look after your mind as well as your body".
During his time working as an air ambulance pilot, the Prince has repeatedly been called out to attempted suicides, something he said made him think about mental health.
He said: "Sometimes, emotions have to be put to one side to get the job done, but if you have been through an especially traumatic or stressful situation it is essential to talk it through after the event.
"If you don't acknowledge how you feel it will only bottle up and could reassert itself later as illness."
Prince William spoke out a day after his younger brother Prince Harry revealed he had sought counselling after 20 years of "not thinking" about the death of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
Harry was 12 when his mother was killed in Paris but, he told The Daily Telegraph, he did not process his grief until much later in life.
It was only when he was "on the verge of punching someone" in his late twenties that he realised he had bottled up his own emotions.
After encouragement from his elder brother William, he worked with a "shrink" to understand his feelings, he said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The clown car cabinet
Opinion Even 'Little Marco' towers above his fellow nominees
By Mark Gimein Published
-
Ed Park's 6 favorite works about self reflection and human connection
Feature The Pulitzer Prize finalist recommends works by Jason Rekulak, Gillian Linden, and more
By The Week US Published
-
6 fantastic homes in Columbus, Ohio
Feature Featuring a 1915 redbrick Victorian in German Village and a modern farmhouse in Woodland Park
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Duchy Files: how bad is the scandal for King Charles?
Today's Big Question Making millions in rent from the NHS and armed forces a 'PR disaster' for royal family
By The Week UK Published
-
Princess of Wales visits Southport
Speed Read The royal couple met the families of the girls killed in the knife attack
By The Week UK Published
-
Kate and William: adapting to the Insta age
Talking Point Communicating directly with the public lets the royals circumvent the media machine but it comes with its own perils
By The Week UK Published
-
Princess of Wales returns to work in first meeting of 2024
Speed Reed Early Years project has been the 'cornerstone' of Catherine's charitable work
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Princess of Wales celebrates end of chemotherapy
Speed Read The former Kate Middleton shares rare glimpse into family life as she marks milestone in her cancer treatment
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Is Prince Harry planning a royal comeback?
In the Spotlight Duke of Sussex looking to repair relationship with King Charles and 'rehabilitate' his image back in UK
By The Week UK Published
-
King Charles portrait: 'mystique' or 'monstrosity'?
Talking Points While the artist hoped to portray the 'magic' of the monarchy, critics have lambasted the 'spooky' work
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Prince Harry returns to mark 10 years of Invictus – but he won't see the King
Speed Read Duke of Sussex will not see his father during London visit 'due to His Majesty's full programme'
By Hollie Clemence, The Week UK Published