Prince Harry detailed how he often looks at an old portrait of his late mother, Princess Diana, and wonders what she\u2019d think of his life today. <\/p>\n
\u201cI can actually get eye contact from her, and there\u2019s a cheekiness in her smile\u2026 I just feel very connected to her,\u201d the Duke of Sussex shared in a new MasterClass session<\/a> about grief. <\/p>\n The portrait of Diana was taken by French photographer Patrick Demarchelier, and published in a Harper\u2019s Bazaar December 1995 special issue.<\/p>\n Prince Harry (seen here in his MasterClass session) revealed he often looks at an old portrait of Princess Diana.<\/p>\n Harry (seen here with Diana in 1986) said he feels \u201cvery connected\u201d to his late mom when he looks at the portrait, which is from 1995. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI find myself looking at her and wondering, \u2018What is she thinking about what I am doing right now?’\u201d Harry added.<\/p>\n The \u201cSpare<\/a>\u201d author, 42, also said he sometimes looks at the picture of Diana \u201cto see if the facial expression changes, but it never does.\u201d<\/p>\n Harry was 12 years old when Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. She was 36.<\/p>\n Harry (seen above with Diana in 1987) said he wonders what Diana thinks of his life today when he looks at the photo. Getty Images<\/p>\n Harry (seen here with Diana) also said he looks at the picture of Diana \u201cto see if the facial expression changes, but it never does.\u201d Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images<\/p>\n Harry, who spoke to neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O\u2019Connor in the MasterClass session, recalled how he struggled to look at photos of Diana in the initial aftermath of her death.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though I had photographs in my bedroom at school, I distinctly remember not thinking about my mother because thinking about something that sad was never gonna bring her back,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n Harry admitted he felt \u201cemotionally numb\u201d for years after Diana died, to the point where he \u201cfelt disloyal and guilty\u201d over the possibility of being happy again.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt like I had to be sad and I had to be emotionally numb in order to prove to her that I missed her,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n Harry was 12 when Diana died in a car accident in Paris in August 1997. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images<\/p>\n Harry (seen here at Diana\u2019s funeral) spoke about grieving his mom during the MasterClass session. Getty Images<\/p>\n However, Harry said he eventually realized that his mom would want him to be happy, which was \u201ca huge mental shift\u201d for him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt freed me, and it gave me a whole different outlook on life,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n Harry \u2014\u00a0who recently moved back to the UK<\/a> with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two kids, despite their drama with Harry\u2019s family<\/a> \u2014 admitted he thinks about Diana \u201cpretty much every night and most mornings,\u201d and asks for her help during tough times. <\/p>\n \u201cA lot has happened in my life in the last six years, and she has turned up at moments where it makes complete sense that she turned up in those moments,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt just makes me laugh out loud sometimes because it\u2019s like, this is not a coincidence. There is no version of where this is anything else but you.\u201d<\/p>\n Harry added, \u201cI feel it as an energy. And also it\u2019s visual. It\u2019s a sign. And it\u2019s very much connected to her.\u201d<\/p>\n The Duke of Sussex (seen here with Diana) said he felt \u201cemotionally numb\u201d for years after her death. UK Press via Getty Images<\/p>\n Harry (pictured above with Diana and brother William in 1989) said he eventually realized his mom would want him to be happy, which was \u201ca huge mental shift\u201d for him. Getty Images<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Also during the session, Harry explained how joining the military at age 20<\/a> was the \u201cperfect distraction\u201d from grieving Diana\u2019s death.<\/p>\n \u201cFor 15, 20 years, when I was being asked, \u2018Are you OK?\u2019 My response was, \u2018I\u2019m fine,\u2019\u201d Harry recalled. \u201cIt was numbness, emotional shutdown. And without knowing it, adrenaline was pushing me, was driving me.\u201d<\/p>\n Harry expressed that his \u201cpost-traumatic stress was not tied\u201d to his military tour in Afghanistan, but instead that experience \u201cappeared to be a trigger for other traumas that had stored themselves within me.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, Harry (seen here with Diana) said joining the military was the \u201cperfect distraction\u201d from grieving his mom\u2019s death. Paul Greaves \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n Harry (seen here with William at their mom\u2019s funeral) also said he thinks about Diana \u201cpretty much every night.\u201d AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n While he was promoting his memoir \u201cSpare\u201d in 2023, Harry admitted Diana would be \u201csad\u201d about his falling out with his brother, Prince William. <\/a><\/p>\n