Prince Harry’s got a new hotshot job and it’s definitely nothing royal

Prince Harry is getting a new, non-royal job in California in a move which appears to even further consolidate the already pretty well-confirmed “Megxit”.

Harry, who with his wife Meghan stepped back as a senior working royal in March 2020, will become chief impact officer to the US professional coaching and mental health firm BetterUp, based in San Francisco.

Describing the appointment, Harry said he wanted to use the role to “lift up critical dialogues around mental health and foster an environment for honest and vulnerable conversations”.

Speaking from, perhaps, a personal perspective, he added: “Self-optimisation is not about fixing something that’s broken. It’s about becoming the best version of ourselves, with whatever life throws at us – someone who is ready for the next challenge and can meet setbacks with courage, confidence and self-awareness.”

The new role comes about two weeks after Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, when they accused an unnamed member of the royal family, not the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh, of raising concerns about how dark their son Archie’s skin tone would be, before he was born.

Mental health was a big theme in the interview, with Meghan describing how she asked for help when she was suicidal, but said the institution gave her no support. After the interview the Queen said in a statement that the issues raised, including race, would be “addressed by the family privately”.

Of course, people have been very interested in the news of Harry’s new job, with some praising him for forging his own path.

Others wondered what it meant for Silicon Valley

Some reacted with more, er, surprise.

And others thought it was all a bit inevitable.

And there was one who highlighted an important consideration.

It is not clear what the role will involve, what hours Harry will be working or how much he will be paid. But it’s clear the world’s eyes will be on the prince as he takes on his new role.

No pressure then, Harry.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.