Prince Harry opens up about the ‘real struggles’ of fatherhood as he reveals he went to therapy as a new dad during emotional talk at AFL club – while Meghan is nowhere to be seen

Prince Harry has candidly opened up about fatherhood struggles in a panel discussion with Dr Zac Seidler, Global Director of Research at the Movember Institute of Men’s Health during his visit to AFL club Western Bulldogs.

The Duke of Sussex recalled how he began keeping a journal as soon as he and Meghan found out they were expecting their first child, which was publicly confirmed during their 2018 Australian tour as newlyweds.

‘It’s the most important and transformational role a guy can ever move into,’ he said.

‘That role….gives you purpose.’

Harry also spoke about his early struggles after son Archie was born in May 2019, when the newborn was more reliant on Meghan.

‘Those days, weeks, after birth are a real struggle,’ he admitted.

Harry discussed about the importance of having therapy as he shared a heartfelt plea to new dads.

It comes Movember research revealed three in five Australian dads surveyed said that no health professional asked about their mental health during pregnancy or in the 12 months after birth.

‘You’re not alone,’ Harry said.

‘For me, [going to therapy] was a sign of strength, not weakness.

‘Don’t ever let yourself get to the point where you are no use to anybody.’

The panel discussion was the first time Harry had publicly spoken since arriving in Australia one day earlier.

Prince Harry has arrived at Whitten Oval in Melbourne’s west, the headquarters of AFL club Western Bulldogs.

Harry is well known for his advocacy for men’s mental health, and his visit will coincide with the release of Movember’s new national research report.

He chose to visit the Bulldogs due to the club’s strong ties to the Movember charity, which raises funds for men’s health

The Duke of Sussex tried to dodge a reporter’s questions as he slipped through a side door shortly after 9am, bypassing the large crowd at the front entrance.

‘Harry, what do you know about AFL? You’re looking for a kick at the footy?’ Seven reporter Andrew McCormack asked him.

Harry reportedly replied: ‘Not enough.’

Bulldogs midfielder Adam Treloar brought along his six-year-old daughter Georgie, who was excited to meet the royal.

‘I’m going to say hello,’ she told Channel Seven.

The visit began with club officials greeting Harry and presented him with two jerseys for his children Archie and Lilibet, with their names on the back.

An outwardly confident Prince Harry is revelling at being back in the spotlight Down Under, while Meghan Markle is showing her ‘humility’ via tried-and-tested ‘royal tour’ gestures, a body language expert has claimed.

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that on day one of their Australian tour, the Duke of Sussex appeared to be enjoying basking in the glow of a warm welcome as he strode ahead during the couple’s arrival at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum.

A more cautious Meghan, tightly gripping the Prince’s arm, was apparently keen on playing a more supportive role.

‘This is very much Harry taking charge and acting like the main star of the show as he guides and then ushers a clinging Meghan along with a steering pat on the back,’ Ms James said.

The highly publicised three-day retreat Meghan Markle is set to headline in Sydney has failed to sell out – over a month after the women-only event was first announced.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently embarking on a four-day quasi-royal tour Down Under that some have suggested is a ‘money-making’ exercise in ‘self promotion’.

One of the highlights of their trip is a ‘fireside chat’ with the Duchess at the AU$2,699 per-head Her Best Life retreat organised by events company Besties, which is founded by Australian radio presenter Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and her manager Gemma O’Neill.

While the wellbeing event is capped at an ‘intimate’ 300 guests, the retreat has failed to sell out despite organisers claiming the ticket allocation was ‘exhausted’ on March 23.

The ‘standard experience’ includes access to Meghan’s speech and all other activities, as well as a ‘twin-share’ hotel room. VIP ticket holders have solo rooms, with a total cost of £1,700 (AU$3,199).

Three days before the retreat begins, a post on Her Best Life podcast’s Instagram account announced a ‘final last-minute availability’ of tickets for three solo rooms and two double rooms at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel at Coogee Beach.

‘Guest list now closing – final availability due to movement. See you ladies this weekend!! Can’t wait!,’ the post was captioned.

Day two of Harry and Meghan’s whirlwind tour of Australia is underway.

While the Duke of Sussex has engagements in both Melbourne and Canberra on Wednesday, mystery surrounds Meghan’s movements, with no events listed on her official itinerary.

London’s The Telegraph has reported that she could potentially hold private meetings with potential buyers, partners and marketing executives after her brand As Ever was recently trademarked in Australia.

Harry will travel to Whitten Oval, the home of AFL club Western Bulldogs for a Movember event.

He will then travel to Canberra to visit the Australian War Memorial, where he will meet Indigenous veterans, attend an Invictus Australia reception and participate in the daily Last Post Ceremony.

It’s not Harry’s first visit to the Australian War Memorial.

He famously visited the memorial in April 2015, which was his only public appearance before starting a four-week attachment with the Australian army.

‘It’s always lovely to have anyone visit the Australian War Memorial, but to have someone like Prince Harry, who himself is a veteran and has been here before, to welcome him back, I’m very much looking forward to it,’ memorial chief executive Matt Anderson PSM told Sunrise.

‘It’s a good day for the memorial and a good day for our veterans.’

He has met Harry several times previously, both in Australia and the UK.

‘He is very down to earth and is very much about the people,’ Mr Anderson said.

Harry and Meghan’s camp is said to be frustrated by negative headlines that dominated their visit even before they arrived, a source has told Daily Mail.

Stories about the couple using the trip as a quasi royal tour while also supporting their commercial interests with paid appearances began long before their Qantas flight touched down in Melbourne on Tuesday morning.

Large crowds gathered at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne for the first stop on the couple’s four-day tour, just hours after they disembarked from the 15-hour flight from Los Angeles.

They spent 90 minutes meeting and taking selfies with young patients before they were given a tour of the wards where they made bedside visits and took part in a therapy program.

But behind the smiles, the Sussexes and their team are understood to be upset about how they’ve been received in Australia.

They were also said to be surprised by backlash among politicians such as Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson over publicly-funded police protection.

‘To be fair, they have tried to make the trip mostly about charitable endeavours and limit costs,’ a source told Daily Mail.

The couple have largely relied on private security and there has been little police presence at their smaller engagements so far.

The source added: ‘Prince Harry has always had an affection for Australia and for a long time felt it was a home away from home, having done his gap year here in his youth.

‘He in particular is known to keep up with his own press and would be taken aback by some strong reactions in the media and the comment sections.’

The reception from many Aussies online wasn’t so warm, a stark contrast from their first visit back in 2018, when they were newly married and expecting their first child.

‘Do the kids even know who they are?’ one commented on the hospital visit.

Another commented: ‘Those flashing lights must be hurting the kids eyes.’

Others pointed out that the couple are no longer working royals and should not be given special treatment or have any of their trip funded by Australian taxpayers.

‘The Australian taxpayer should not be out of pocket for this tour. I believe that we are contributing to the cost of protection on this occasion. As they are private citizens, they should be meeting all of their own expenses,’ one woman wrote.