'Makes me think of mum'
Prince Harry opens up about mum Diana’s death three days after becoming dad to baby Archie
PRINCE Harry has spoken candidly about the death of his mum Diana three days after he became dad to baby Archie.
The proud parent, 34, was speaking to former soldier Dennis van der Stroom as he briefly left Meghan and his newborn's side to launch the Invictus Games countdown in Holland.
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Mr van der Stroom said: "He [Prince Harry] said missing a mother is like missing some kind of security, how you need that as a son and it falls away when you lose your mother."
The Prince was just 12 and William 15 when Diana died in a fatal car accident in August 1997.
'NEW FOCUS'
Prince Harry also spoke about how having a new son had given him a fresh focus, as he was spotted wearing an Invictus jumper bearing the slogan "I am Daddy".
Mr van der Stroom, who served in the Dutch army from 2006 to 2011, added: "Harry talked about how having a small child was his new focus and new goal and I told him how a couple of months ago, I was struggling with my mental health but my wife's pregnancy has given me a goal.
"Above all he said he was just amazed by the miracles in the world, and how his child has made a lot of people happy. He also told me he's really happy that his son is so far very quiet.
"He also told me not to make too many plans and that there's no way you can plan for when the baby arrives."
The new dad was greeted warmly as he helped launch the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games 2020 at the Hague - a sporting event he created.
He was even given a blue baby toy, apparently a rattle, from seven-year-old girl Daimy Gommers whose dad Paul lost a leg in a parachute accident.
Above all he said he was just amazed by the miracles in the world and how his child has made a lot of people happy
Dennis van der Stroom
Harry was later given an Invictus themed baby-gro, holding it up to the audience in delight as he exclaimed: "It's lovely".
And he showed any sleepless night didn't put him off his game, managing to get a bullseye as he tried his hand at archery at Sportcampus Zuiderpark.
The prince had initially been scheduled to travel to the nation on Wednesday for a two day visit, however, it was announced last week that his trip had been shortened to just one day as 37-year-old Meghan Markle’s due date came and went.
It is understood today's launch has been a long-standing engagement for Harry, who has passionately advocated for injured armed services personnel.
Speaking today at the event, the Prince said: "I had seen first-hand the transformative power of sport in helping people physically and psychologically recover and knew that the Invictus Games would change lives, capture hearts and inspire a generation, the Invictus generation.
"Now here we are, launching the countdown to the fifth Invictus Games and I am absolutely thrilled that many more wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women will have the opportunity to continue their journey to recovery."
DAD ON DUTY
While the trip had been cut short, leading parenting expert Suzie Hayman said the new dad would find leaving his baby son and wife so soon "agonising".
She added that he would feel a "pang" to be leaving his wife and child.
It had previously been reported Prince Harry would take two weeks paternity leave on the birth of his baby to show he was a "modern dad".
And Buckingham Palace today announced Harry would continue his royal duties into next week - heading to Oxford Children's Hospital next Tuesday.
A friend of the prince said: "He doesn't need to take paternity leave because he doesn't work in the way most people do but he thinks it's a very modern dad thing to do."
Harry had appeared every inch the doting dad yesterday as he held his swaddled son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born on Monday morning.
As Meghan put a protective arm around her "two guys", the father gushed: "Parenting is amazing.
"It's only been two and a half days, three days, but we're just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy and be able to spend some precious times with him as he slowly, slowly starts to grow up."
We’re just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy
Prince Harry
And the bearded royal even joked his son already had a "little bit of facial hair" as he showed him off to the cameras.
Meghan Markle, who is being supported by her mum Doria Ragland, is believed to be staying with Archie at the couple's newly renovated home at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
The new mum, who stunned in a white trench coat dress for yesterday's announcement, had kept a close arm around her husband and son.
She said: "It's magic. It's pretty amazing.
"I have the best two guys in the world so I'm really happy. He has the sweetest temperament. He's really calm."
Help with mental health
HARRY, Meghan, William and Kate have launched a free text messaging helpline to support people facing a mental health crisis.
The connects people in need with volunteers who offer help.
William appealed for more volunteers and said: “It can reach thousands of vulnerable people every day.”
Prince Harry arrives at the Hague to launch one year countdown for Invictus Games just days after becoming new dad to Archie
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The couple broke with royal convention by not using a title for their baby boy, and have given their firstborn a name familiar to fans of the American Archie comic - featuring a main character who has red hair just like the duke.
While some suggested that Archie had been chosen thanks to it meaning "bold" - a royal source said: "They may have just liked the name" - indicating it may be another sign of the fiercely independent couple wishing to break with tradition.
Little Archie yesterday met the Queen and Prince Philip as the couple shared sweet snaps of their new family on Instagram.
WHAT'S IN THE NAME?
Archie means "genuine", "bold" and "brave", and is German in origin.
Short for Archibald, it is now given as a name in its own right.
Famous Archies include the actress Archie Panjabi, who starred in The Good Wife.
Archie Andrews is the main character in Archie comics in America and also the Netflix show Riverdale, while Archie Mitchell was a villain in the BBC soap EastEnders.
Harrison means "son of Harry" so is likely to be a tribute to the duke.
It is English in origin and famous Harrisons include the Star Wars actor Harrison Ford.
Archie was the 18th most popular name for boys in England and Wales in 2017, according to the latest available figures from the Office for National Statistics.
It has experienced a dramatic rise in popularity since 1996 when it was only in 192nd place.
Some 2,803 baby boys were named Archie in England and Wales in 2017.
In Scotland, Archie was the 17th most popular name for boys in 2018, according to the National Records of Scotland.
At the launch, the Duke also spoke to his Invictus pal JJ Chalmers about how Archie slept for the first day and then woke up demanding food.
JJ said of Harry’s experience on parenting so far: “He said it’s amazing but it’s hard work. He said that [Archie] slept for the first 24 hours like all babies do . . . and then he woke up.
“Like any father he’s learning the hard way that you have to celebrate the moments of joy and endure the rest of it. He’s already changed some nappies.
“I said to him that when my daughter came home from hospital three years ago she slept all the way home and for ten minutes in the house. And she then opened her eyes and never went back to sleep.”
Harry and former marine JJ, 32, have become friends since the first games in 2014.
JJ added: “I see the guy with a buzzing smile on his face still. Like any father he lights up even more when he speaks about his son and how proud he is of his wife and what she’s doing right now in his absence.
“It’s remarkable that he’s here. I did say this was his first baby.” He said of the Invictus Games: “In some ways it shows you just how much it means to him, to drag himself away, because I know what it’s like being a young father.
“You don’t want to leave and, if he had the choice, he would be at home.”
Harry was inundated with gifts for Archie as he met old friends, competitors and their families at a sports centre.
He was particularly taken by an Games babygrow, which he said he would put his son in immediately.
Another gift was a jacket, embroidered with the words Invictus Family Daddy, which he promptly put on.
MOST READ IN NEWS
He hugged seven-year-old Daimy Gommers, who he first met at the Toronto Invictus Games and happily accepted a soft cubed rattle for his son.
And the Royal Family have all flooded the new parents with messages of congratulations.
Prince William and Kate Middleton said they were "thrilled" at the news - with big brother William happy to welcome Harry to the "sleep deprivation society".
Asked if he had any pearls of wisdom for Harry, dad-of-three William laughed and said: “Plenty of advice, plenty of advice.
"But no, I wish him all the best and I hope the next few days they can settle down and enjoy having a newborn in their family and the joys that come with that.”
Meanwhile, grandfather Prince Charles joked he was collecting a "rather large number" of grandchildren.
The 70-year-old was gifted a teddy bear and blue balloon as he arrived in Germany with wife Camilla.
The Queen, who was the first to be told of Baby Sussex's arrival, also revealed her pleasure at welcoming her eighth great grandchild.
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