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Apple snags Prince Harry to work with Oprah on mental health show for TV Plus

Kensington Palace makes the announcement on Prince Harry's newly launched Instagram account.

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Katie a UK-based news reporter and features writer. Officially, she is CNET's European correspondent, covering tech policy and Big Tech in the EU and UK. Unofficially, she serves as CNET's Taylor Swift correspondent. You can also find her writing about tech for good, ethics and human rights, the climate crisis, robots, travel and digital culture. She was once described a "living synth" by London's Evening Standard for having a microchip injected into her hand.
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Prince Harry and Oprah are working on the series together.

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Apple TV Plus already has a bunch of A-list stars working on its new streaming service, but it's getting another boost thanks to the addition of yet another household name: Prince Harry.

The Duke of Sussex is working together with Oprah Winfrey on a mental health documentary series for Apple TV Plus, Kensington Palace said Wednesday through the royal's new Instagram account.

Apple  unveiled its streaming service in late March and said it has over 30 shows in production. TV Plus is designed to rival Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video and boasts a slew of celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg.

At the launch event, Winfrey took to the stage to discuss her role in TV Plus. This includes bringing her book club to the streaming service, as well as a documentary series about sexual harassment in the workplace called Toxic Labor. She also teased the mental health series but didn't share many details -- and now we know why.

According to Prince Harry's Instagram account, which he share with wife Meghan Markle, he and Winfrey are co-creators and executive producers on the show, which will launch in 2020. Winfrey was among the high-profile guests who attended the couple's wedding last year in London.

"It is a huge responsibility to get this right as we bring you the facts, the science and the awareness of a subject that is so relevant during these times," Prince Harry said in a statement. "Our hope is that this series will be positive, enlightening and inclusive -- sharing global stories of unparalleled human spirit fighting back from the darkest places, and the opportunity for us to understand ourselves and those around us better."

View this post on Instagram

We are excited to announce that The Duke of Sussex and Oprah Winfrey are partners, co-creators and executive producers on their forthcoming mental health series launching on Apple in 2020. The pair have been developing the series for several months and are looking forward to sharing such an important project on this global platform. The dynamic multi-part documentary series will focus on both mental illness and mental wellness, inspiring viewers to have an honest conversation about the challenges each of us faces, and how to equip ourselves with the tools to not simply survive, but to thrive. This commitment builds on The Duke of Sussex’s long-standing work on issues and initiatives regarding mental health, where he has candidly shared personal experience and advocated for those who silently suffer, empowering them to get the help and support they deserve. His Royal Highness has spent many years working with communities throughout the UK and young people across the Commonwealth to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and broaden the conversation of mental wellness to accelerate change for a more compassionate, connected and positive society. Quote from HRH: “I truly believe that good mental health - mental fitness - is the key to powerful leadership, productive communities and a purpose-driven self. It is a huge responsibility to get this right as we bring you the facts, the science and the awareness of a subject that is so relevant during these times. Our hope is that this series will be positive, enlightening and inclusive - sharing global stories of unparalleled human spirit fighting back from the darkest places, and the opportunity for us to understand ourselves and those around us better. I am incredibly proud to be working alongside Oprah on this vital series.”

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