Prince William claims it was Britain’s ‘stiff upper lip’ culture that led to brother’s breakdown

AFTER Prince Harry revealed he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown for years, his older brother Prince William has gone into bat for him.

Prince William goes into bat for his younger brother after Prince Harry announced he struggled with his mental health. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

PRINCE William yesterday backed brother Harry’s brave admission of his mental anguish — and blasted the monarchy’s “stiff upper lip” tradition.

He spoke out against the royals’ famous ability to keep emotions in check a day after Harry confessed to “shutting down” his feelings after mum Diana’s death, The Sun reports.

Prince William and Prince Harry at their mother’s funeral in 1997. Prince Harry was 12 years old when Diana, Princess of Wales died.

William said: “There may be a time and a place for the ‘stiff upper lip’ but not at the expense of your health.”

Harry described how bottling up his feelings for 20 years drove him to the verge of breakdown — and revealed it was William who persuaded him to finally get help.

William yesterday said he and his wife will raise Prince George and Princess Charlotte to be more relaxed about talking of their emotions.

He told charity mag CALMzine: “Catherine and I are clear we want both George and Charlotte to grow up feeling able to talk about their emotions and feelings.

“Over the past year we have visited a number of schools together where we have been amazed listening to children talk about some quite difficult subjects in a clear and emotionally articulate way, something most adults would struggle with.

“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.”

Prince William said he wants his children to be able to talk about their emotions. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

William spoke to the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) as part of the royals support for Heads Together.

It is a charity coalition campaign to raise awareness about the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Harry and William are backing the campaign, which is this year’s London Marathon appeal.

Prince William, left, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have spearheaded the campaign Heads Together to encourage people to talk openly about mental health issues.

William said his work as an air ambulance helicopter pilot has made him aware of the high number of suicides by young men.

He said: “I hope through Heads Together and with CALM we can show how to tackle this — by helping men feel they can open up about pressures they are going through and get the help they need.”

Last night it emerged that schoolkids are to be given greater access to Britain’s National Health Service’s (NHS) mental health workers.

It is hoped the plan will combat growing levels of depression and anxiety.

Ministers are considering plans to place NHS professionals in secondary school on a fulltime basis, the Telegraph reported.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission.