Duke and Duchess of Sussex discuss 'world of pressure' in new documentary as Prince breaks down during emotional speech

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to lay bare the “world of pressure and pain behind the brave faces” in a ­documentary, it has been revealed, after the Duke broke down during an emotional speech about seriously ill children tonight.

The Duke and Duchess, who have both given interviews to their friend Tom Bradby as part of an ITV programme about their ­recent tour in Africa, will speak on camera about the “challenge and ­pressure of balancing their public ­duties and family life”.

The broadcast will follow a poignant public engagement for the royal couple at the WellChild award tonight, in which the Duke was overcome with emotion as he spoke of how becoming a father had given him a new appreciation of the struggles faced by seriously ill children and their carers.

In a speech to families at the awards for inspiring children, he said: “Last year when my wife and I attended [these awards] we knew we were expecting our first child - no one else did at the time, but we did - and I remember squeezing Meghan’s hand so tight during the awards.

"Both of us thinking what it would be like to be parents one day and more so, what it would be like to do everything we could to protect and help our child should they be born with immediate challenges or become unwell over time.

“And now, as parents, being here and speaking to all of you pulls at my heart strings in a way I could have never understood until I had a child of my own.”

After needing to break off to fight back tears, while ceremony hostess Gaby Roslin held his hand, he added: “It has been over a decade since I first came to these Awards and every year they never fail to surprise and inspire me. Yet this year, it resonates in a different way, because now I’m a father.”

The Duke’s words on family life are likely to take on new meaning after a separate ITV documentary, filmed by his friend Tom Bradby, is broadcast on Sunday.

Bradby said the programme, which was completed before the WellChild Awards, will follow the Duke and Duchess during their tour of Africa and would lay bare “passion for their work, private happiness, but a world of pressure and pain behind the brave faces”.

A trailer, newly released, also shows behind-the-scenes footage of Archie Mountbatten-Windsor who - according to his mother - started playgroup today and “loved it”.

The documentary comes after an extraordinary statement from the Duke about the tabloid press and his family, in which he spoke furiously of “relentless propaganda” against his wife. It was also announced that the Duchess was to sue the Mail on Sunday over the publication of extracts of a letter she wrote to her father and the Duke ­announced he was suing the owners of The Sun and Daily Mirror over ­allegations of phone hacking.

An ITV spokesman promised the film would give “exclusive access to the world’s most talked-about couple, ­exploring their compassion and impactful work, alongside the challenges and pressure they face living as a young family on the global stage trying to balance their public duties and private life under media scrutiny.”

Harry & Meghan: An African Journey is on ITV at 9pm on Sunday.