From Princess Diana’s Confidante to Renowned Psychotherapist: Julia Samuel’s Journey (Video)

A trusted psychotherapist to the British Royal Family, Julia Samuel’s friendship with them began through Princess Diana, whom she met in 1987. Living in Kensington, near Diana, their friendship deepened over the years, with Diana becoming the godmother of Julia’s son. Decades later, Prince William extended this bond by inviting Julia to be one of the seven godparents to Prince George of Cambridge, the heir to the British throne.

Julia and Diana frequently worked out together, went to the cinema, and confided in each other. As both a family friend and a therapist, Julia supported Prince William and Prince Harry in processing their mother’s tragic death. Years later, Diana’s daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, also sought her guidance.

"I want to start with a simple question: can pain be used for good?" Julia reflects in her book.

She recalls growing up in a home filled with black-and-white photographs of family members lost too soon—a brother who died in a dentist’s chair, a father who suffered a fatal heart attack at 27. Yet, in her family, as in many others, these losses were never spoken about.

"Silence taught me that grief and sadness were not to be discussed," she writes.

In “Every Family Has a Story”, Julia explores trauma and its long-lasting effects, explaining that grief has no language or time limit. It can remain buried inside us for decades, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

"Grief changes us. We may look the same in the mirror, but inside, we are completely different, sometimes even broken. We try to resist it through anger, denial, or avoidance, numbing the pain with distractions like work, substances, or other coping mechanisms. But paradoxically, pain itself is the medicine for grief. It is not pain that harms us, it is what we do to suppress it that can cause lasting damage, even across generations."

The book examines how family trauma manifests over time, affecting relationships, emotions, and mental well-being. Julia explains that some families emerge stronger from adversity, while others fall apart. Why do some families collapse under pressure? What determines resilience? Why do the people closest to us sometimes drive us crazy?

"Our minds crave predictability. We expect that when our loved ones leave home in the morning, they will return safely in the evening. When someone we love dies, our brain struggles to process this disruption. Mourning is our way of reconfiguring our inner world, forcing us to accept that a person we deeply loved is no longer physically present."

Over the centuries, family structures have evolved significantly. The digital age, changing societal norms, and shifting values have all transformed the way we interact with our families. Julia warns that modern families are becoming more isolated, with fewer gatherings and increased tensions, while the definition of family itself continues to expand.

“Every Family Has a Story” is not a guide to creating the perfect family, because no such thing exists. Instead, it presents the real-life experiences of eight families, each struggling with generational wounds, inherited traumas, and unresolved conflicts. The book demonstrates how unaddressed issues from one generation can impact the next, making life even more challenging. However, with the right guidance, these burdens can be understood, processed, and ultimately lightened, one conversation at a time.