Prince Harry faced fresh criticism after discussing the death of Princess Diana in a paid MasterClass about grief. Royal expert Helena Chard accused the Duke of Sussex of repeatedly revisiting his mother’s death while financially benefiting from public interest in her story.
Harry appeared in Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss, which debuted on October 8. He joined neuroscientist and grief expert Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor to discuss loss, emotional recovery and his own experiences after Diana died.
Royal expert Helena Chard criticizes Prince Harry’s reported paid MasterClass about grief and Princess Diana
The Daily Mail reported that Harry received $100,000 for the Prince Harry MasterClass, along with a share of subscription revenue. A spokesperson reportedly confirmed that MasterClass paid Harry but did not disclose financial details.
The reported arrangement drew criticism from Chard, who acknowledged Harry’s long history of discussing his grief but questioned the financial element surrounding his latest project.
“He realizes people’s interest in Diana and, let’s not forget, it makes a quick buck,” Chard told Fox News Digital. “It’s seen as a cash grab, cashing in on his mother’s death.”
Fox News also reported that she said the situation contributed to accusations that Harry had become a “Grief Grifter.”
Harry, however, used the course to describe how losing Diana at age 12 affected him for decades. He said he did not cry when he first learned she had died and later mistook emotional numbness for strength.
“I was convinced that was strength, but it wasn’t,” Harry said. He explained that he had struggled without knowing how to process his grief despite his position within the royal family.
The course also benefited Scotty’s Little Soldiers and Comfort Zone Camp, two organizations that support grieving children. The supplied source did not state that Harry donated his reported fee to either charity.
Not every royal commentator agreed with the cash-grab allegations. Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner argued that Harry used his platform to encourage conversations about mental health and grief. He described the decision to speak publicly as an act of bravery rather than a bid for sympathy.
Meanwhile, Harry could continue discussing Diana as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches in 2027. Reports said he had considered several projects tied to the anniversary, although no documentary had been officially confirmed.
