Prince Harry's decision to revisit his grief over the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a new MasterClass course has reignited a long-running debate among royal commentators over whether the Duke of Sussex is sharing his experience or profiting from it. The course, titled «Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Loss,» debuted on Oct. 8 and features Harry in conversation with neuroscientist and grief expert Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor about how loss affects the brain and body.
The Daily Mail reported that Harry received $100,000 plus a share of subscription revenue for the class. A source told the outlet that critics should watch the course before judging it, adding that Harry should not be criticized at length for «speaking from the heart.» Forbes previously reported that most MasterClass instructors receive at least $100,000 and a share of at least 30 percent of revenue. A spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail that Harry was paid by MasterClass but declined to comment further. Past instructors on the platform include Martin Scorsese, Gordon Ramsay and Hillary Clinton.
Several royal experts told Fox News Digital that Harry's repeated public revisiting of his grief — through books, interviews and media projects — has fueled questions about whether the 42-year-old is capitalizing on a tragedy he shares with his brother, Prince William, who has largely chosen to grieve outside the spotlight. British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard said Harry «has spoken extensively about his emotional scars and unresolved grief surrounding the death of his mother,» but argued that «Harry continuously paints himself a victim» and that «blame always falls on someone else.» Chard said the project «is seen as a cash grab, cashing in on his mother's death» and plays into the reported label «Grief Grifter.» She added that grief affects people differently and that both brothers endured divergent paths after their mother's death.
According to People magazine, MasterClass approached Harry about developing a class on grief in 2025. The course was filmed in California during the summer of 2026, before Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, traveled back to the United Kingdom. People reported that the course, released ahead of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, supports two charities: Scotty's Little Soldiers, a U.K. organization that helps children and young people whose parents died during or after service in the British Armed Forces, and Comfort Zone Camp, a U.S. nonprofit that provides bereavement camps for grieving children.
In the course, Harry recalled his reaction to learning of his mother's death. «I didn't cry when I was told my mom died, only at her burial, and then not again for nearly two decades,» he said, as quoted by People. «I was convinced that was strength, but it wasn't. It was a 12-year-old boy with no permission to fall apart and no roadmap for how to heal.» He added: «You would think I had the best help in the world. I'm a prince for God's sake. But I was still grieving and didn't have any place to put those feelings.» In his 2023 memoir, «Spare,» Harry wrote that his father, King Charles III, did not hug him after telling him Diana had died.
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that «sadly, Harry hasn't dealt well at all with his grief» and echoed the «grief grifter» criticism, asking, «What mother would want her child to be miserable and mourning so many years later?» Other commentators see the project differently. Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner said Harry is using his platform to raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage others to discuss their experiences.
The course also arrived weeks after Princess Diana's younger brother, Charles Spencer, released his memoir, «Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.» According to The Times, William does not plan to make a film about Diana to mark the 30th anniversary of her death in 2027, in part to avoid further conflict with Harry, and has declined several offers to make or appear in documentaries about his mother. People reported that Harry is considering several projects to mark the anniversary, though no documentary has been finalized or confirmed, and that he has reached out to family members and friends of his late mother.