When was the last time a royal admitted to struggling with their feelings? On 18 February, Prince William opened up live on Radio 1 about his battle to "understand my emotions and why I felt the way I did." It was more than just an interview; it was a roundtable assembled with a single aim—tackling the stigma around mental health and suicide prevention.
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Seated alongside names like Professor Green, Guvna B, and radio host Greg James, William's voice resonated with listeners. The conversation, also joined by Allan Brownrigg from James' Place and a passionate youth carer named Nathan, went far beyond the usual palace platitudes. William, now 43, reflected on his days as a first responder, admitting that it can take time to process feelings—even for a future king.
Prince William wants talking about mental health to become "second nature"
The roundtable wasn't just about sharing personal stories; it carried the weight of real action. The previous month, the Royal Foundation—supported heavily by William and Kate Middleton—pushed a "significant £1 million" into launching the National Suicide Prevention Network. The message was clear: changing minds takes more than goodwill, it involves focused resources too.
Throughout, William insisted men should set the pace for open conversations.
"I hope the conversations around suicide prevention and mental health become second nature to all of us."
He explained how even he sometimes struggles to keep up with his feelings, saying:
"I take time to understand my emotions, and why I feel what I feel, and I think that's a really important process to do from time to time, to check in with yourself."
According to William, mental health crises can sometimes be overwhelming but often temporary. He noted:
"There can be a strong mental health crisis, but it will pass."
Organisations and networks, as he sees it, can serve as "a little stepping stone" for those struggling.
Normalising conversations: British media and the impact on society
This raw honesty from a royal isn’t lost on the British public or media outlets like OK!. With the Royal Foundation's involvement, there’s a genuine effort to make help-seeking feel ordinary. In William’s words:
"No one in this world has all the tools for every circumstance or mental state they're going to meet... It's OK to ask for help, ask a friend, reach out. That’s part of normalising what goes on in your head."
Notably, the Radio 1 show gave airspace to real people and frontline responders, not just famous faces.
William’s push for education is direct—he wants people to talk more, learn more, and push the taboo around suicide even further away.
"If we talk more, if we educate more, then hopefully the idea of suicide will be further and further away. Because you know, tomorrow you could wake up feeling very different."
The supportive wave hasn’t just created noise—it’s given hope to some who felt too isolated to speak out at all.
Why Prince William's honesty resonates with so many
The room’s atmosphere, live on Radio 1, wasn’t one of doom but of hope. Participants like Nathan, the young carer, and experts such as Allan Brownrigg, all echoed the same feeling: the more these stories are shared, the easier it becomes for people everywhere to check in on themselves and those around them. William’s words—both careful and brave—are already prompting listeners to question, "Have I checked in with myself lately?" The journey towards making mental health a family conversation seems just a little bit easier when a future monarch leads by example.
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Prince William opens up on 'understanding his emotions' during candid Radio 1 appearance
