Royal week of mental health: Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Harry raise awareness

Since the launch of their mental health initiative, Heads Together – which aims to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health – royal trio Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have worked tirelessly to raise awareness and alter the conversations around depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and other issues.

This week saw them ramp up their efforts with multiple interviews, an official engagement and even a surprise appearance on Radio 1.

Sunday

In a candid sit-down with the Telegraph, Prince Harry reveals he sought professional help to deal with his grief in the aftermath of his mother's death in 1997. The flame-haired royal admitted he "shut down all his emotions" for almost two decades after Princess Diana's tragic passing in a car crash. Following a brief period of "total chaos" in his late twenties, he turned to counsellors and began using boxing as an outlet. He says he is now in "a good place".

Monday

The Duke of Cambridge warned that the British "stiff upper lip" could put one's health at risk, stressing the importance of people talking about their struggles.

"Sometimes, emotions have to be put to one side to get the job done, but if you have been through an especially traumatic or stressful situation, it is essential to talk it through after the event," he said in a joint interview together with his brother Prince Harry with CALMzine, a magazine published by the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm). "If you don't acknowledge how you feel it will only bottle up, and could reassert itself later as illness."

Tuesday

Prince William enlisted the help of pop super Lady Gaga after reading her open letter about her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The pair shared a conversation over video call – posted on Twitter – where they discussed the importance of speaking out about mental health, to encourage social acceptability.

Thursday

The Duchess admitted, during the opening of a west London school, that she sometimes feels isolated as a mother.

"Yes, it is lonely at times and you do feel quite isolated but actually so many other mothers are going through exactly what you are going through," she told fellow mothers Katie Massie-Taylor and Sarah Hesz. "It is being brave enough, like you obviously were, to reach out to those around you."

Friday

The royal couple made a surprise appearance during Scott Mills' afternoon broadcast to show solidarity for Adele Roberts, who is running the London Marathon on Sunday (23 April) for Heads Together.

Earlier in the day, the trio released a candid new video for their Heads Together mental health campaign discussing some of the most personal struggles.

Kate, who is said to be interested in how mental health affects family life. said in the clip: "Having a child, particularly your first child, is a life-changing moment, nothing can really prepare you for that. Remember the first few days with little George. You have no idea what you're doing. No matter how many books you read, nothing can prepare you for it."