Matthew Perry helped Prince Harry with panic attacks when he was suffering PTSD

05 November 2023 , 11:07

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Tributes have poured in for Matthew Perry since he sadly died last week (Image: Getty Images)

Since the tragic death of Friends star Matthew Perry last week, many celebrities have recalled their fond encounters with the iconic actor.

Famed for his portrayal as Chandler Bing in the hugely-popular sitcom, the American was hailed for his kindness and resilience in the face of addiction issues after his sad passing aged 54. Hosts of famous names spoke of the profound impact Perry had on their lives, both personally and in his role as Chandler.

One fan whose life was touched by Perry's acting was Prince Harry, who wrote in his autobiography Spare that watching Friends helped him to cope with 'terrifying panic attacks'. The Duke of Sussex explained in the controversial book released earlier this year that the show kept him company while he was going through a 'rough patch' - and the character he related to most was Chandler.

In 2013, the Duke had to take a step back from his royal duties as he was suffering panic attacks and 'debilitating bouts of lethargy'. While never diagnosed, he later reflected that he was likely facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

This was down to his years of military service which included two tours of Afghanistan, of which he spoke frankly in the same book. Harry explained that during those dark days, he often 'sat back', 'ordered food' and watched his two favourite TV shows - 24 and Friends.

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Tributes have poured in for Matthew Perry since he sadly died last week (Getty Images)

In the memoir, Harry wrote that he saw many similarities between himself and Chandler, having watched 'possibly every season' of the US sitcom over the course of a single summer. He also told of his crush on Monica, another protagonist whose actress's house he crashed at after a boozy night in 2016.

"I found the idea of crashing at Monica's highly appealing and amusing", he wrote. "I was still confused because… she was Monica. And I was a Chandler.

"I wondered if I'd ever work up the courage to tell her. Was there enough tequila in California to get me that brave?”

Jamie Saunderson