Prince Harry says Diana's death is a 'wound that festers' — and calls media attention ‘the worst reminder of her life’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be the subject of a documentary filmed during the couple’s recent royal tour in South Africa.

“Harry & Meghan: An African Journey” will be hosted by Robin Roberts and air on ABC on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. ET. A preview for the special shows Prince Harry sounding off to journalist Tom Bradby of the U.K. network ITV about his late mother, Princess Diana, and how he resents media scrutiny. He and Meghan were in Africa when they announced their intentions to seek legal action against the publishers of a British tabloid which published the duchess’ private letter to her estranged dad, Thomas Markle; the announcement included a scathing statement from Harry decrying “knowingly false and malicious” media coverage.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 02:  Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a Creative Industries and Business Reception on October 02, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry took part in an ABC special during their trip to South Africa. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

In the Oct. 1 statement, the royal also compared Meghan’s treatment by the press to that of his late mother, who died in 1997 in a Paris car crash, with paparazzi close behind. “My deepest fear is history repeating itself,” he wrote. “I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”

Harry echoed those sentiments in speaking to Bradby for the ABC documentary. Agreeing that his mother’s death is a “wound that festers,” the prince spoke about the negative aspects of royal life.

"I think [of] being part of this family, in this role, in this job every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash," he told Bradby of Diana’s fame. "It takes me straight back, so in that respect, it’s the worst reminder of her life as opposed to the best."

Princess Diana (1961 - 1997) with her sons Prince William (left) and Prince Harry on a skiing holiday in Lech, Austria, 30th March 1993. (Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)
Harry with Princess Diana and Prince William in 1993. (Photo: Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)

He also opened up about carrying on his mother’s mission against landmines, retracing her steps in Angola this month.

"Being here now 22 years later, trying to finish what she started will be incredibly emotional but everything that I do reminds me of her," he shared ahead of his Angola visit. "But as I said, with the role, with the job, and the sort of the pressures that come with that, I get reminded of the bad stuff usually."

The documentary will also feature an interview with Meghan about her relationship with the media, and both will reportedly speak about their new role as parents to son Archie.

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