Harry says children should be an 'upgrade' of their parents

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, recently kicked off the second day of a brief visit to Australia by combining his passions for mental health campaigning and sport. Speaking in Melbourne, he shared personal experiences of becoming a father and his aim to "upgrade" the parenting he received as a child. He later joined players from the Australian Rules Football team, the Western Bulldogs, for a quick lesson in the sport. Prince Harry's wife, Meghan, was not at the event.

Prince Harry was a special guest at the launch of a report by the charity Movember, focusing on the mental health of fathers of young children. He spoke openly about his own mental health journey after becoming a dad, stating that children are "upgrades" and that parenting must evolve with the changing world. He also reiterated the critical importance of fathers reaching out for help when struggling, emphasizing that it is a sign of strength.

Dr. Zac Seidler, Movember's Global Director of Research, noted the significance of Harry's involvement in launching the report, which found that one in five dads felt extremely isolated after having a child, and three in five were not asked about their well-being in the 12 months post-baby. The report also indicated that over 70% of fathers surveyed expressed a desire to parent differently from their own fathers, reflecting a "seismic intergenerational shift" in parenting approaches.