'I wish I'd known': Harry Styles admits he was unaware of former bandmate Zayn Malik's eating disorder and regrets not being able to help him

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Earlier this year, his former bandmate confessed to battling with anxiety and an eating disorder. 

And now Harry Styles has admitted he regrets not being able to help Zayn Malik with his mental health issues. 

The singer, 23, confessed he had been unaware of Zayn's ordeal, but if he had known he would have reached out to his friend to try and offer a helping hand.

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'I wish I'd known': Harry Styles has confessed he was unaware of his former bandmate Zayn's struggle with an eating disorder and claims he regrets not being able to help him

Zayn first spoke candidly of his mental health battle in an interview with The Sunday Time Style magazine in March. 

It came after he pulled out of Capital FM's Summertime Ball last year, later revealing his absence was due to anxiety. 

Zayn's public apology that discussed his mental health won praise from his girlfriend Gigi Hadid. 

Explaining that he had suffered with similiar issues when he was a part of boyband One Direction, Zayn revealed in his honest interview that he had also struggled with an eating disorder. 

He claimed it was sparked by a feeling of being 'in control' and claimed eating was the only thing he had 'control over' in his life.

Zayn admitted: 'Every area of my life was so regimented and controlled, it was the one area where I could say, "No, I'm not eating that."'  

When quizzed about the Pillowtalk singer's experience, Harry confessed he was unaware that Zayn had been suffering. 

Speaking to the same publication, Harry was asked if he wished he had known to which he replied: 'I mean yes, obviously.' 

He continued: 'If anyone is ever going to go through anything, you always feel like you should know, so you could have done something. But it’s not always how it goes, is it?' 

Support: Zayn had pulled out of an appearance at Capital FM' Summertime Ball in 2016 and won praise from girlfriend Gigi Hadid (pictured) after publicly discussing his anxiety issues

Harry's comments come as he is currently promoting his debut self-titled solo album that features his number one hit Sign of the Times. 

He isn't the first One Direction star to go it alone, as Zayn had released his own original material shortly after quitting the band in 2015. 

His debut single Pillowtalk racked up 13.3 million plays in the first four days of its release, while Harry was left trailing behind Zayn as his track Sign of the Times only garnered  8.8million in the same time frame. 

It's said Harry didn't give his former bandmates a first listen of his debut release, according to Niall Horan. 

'I didn't hear [Harry's music] actually,' he admitted to Heat magazine. 'Harry was working somewhere abroad to do some of the album and he kept it very schtum, but I'm looking forward to hearing the album.'

The Irish singer insisted he and the boys are 'very supportive' of each other's solo projects now they have gone their separate ways.

Troubling time: Zayn had quit One Direction (above in 2014) in March 2015 - later confessing it was during his boyband days that he struggled with his mental health

Regret: Speaking about Zayn's (pictured above with One Direction in 2014) experience, Harry said, 'If anyone is ever going to go through anything, you always feel like you should know, so you could have done something'

That hasn't seemed to dampen Harry's spirits, though, as he has been spiritedly promoting his solo material over the last few weeks. 

On Saturday night he performed a secret gig at the Garage nightclub in Islington, London. 

And it wasn't just his stage presence that grabbed attention, as Harry stepped out in yet another eccentric ensemble that included a pair of silken purple trousers. 

Adorned with a Chinese dragon motif that snaked its way up his slender leg, Harry paired the trousers with a simple black top. 

Quirky: Harry Styles, 23, stepped out in his latest sartorial endeavour - a pair of silken purple trousers - as he left the Garage club in Islington, London on Saturday

The funky trousers flared out at the bottom over his smart black shoes as he strolled out of the venue, having just played a secret gig to his adoring fans. 

Wearing a fistful of rings, Harry ran his hands through his curly chocolate brown locks as he thew a white towel over his shoulder.

The former boy-bander looked slightly sweaty as he exited the gig where once again he bore a striking resemblance to musical pinups Elvis Presley and Mick Jagger. 

However, the star has dismissed any rumours of him taking on the role of Rolling Stones star Jagger for his biopic and insisted he has 'never heard anything' about the film. 

Fashionista: Adorned with a Chinese dragon motif that snaked its way up his slender leg, Harry paired the trousers with a simple black top

Stylish display: Harry sported his latest look after taking to the stage in the capital

Tiring work? The star was seen sporting a towel over his shoulder - no doubt having worked up a sweat during his performance for his secret gig in Islington

Family support: The singer - who is now going solo - was supported by his family in London including his mother Anne

Harry is definitely not trying to shy away from all the attention he's receiving on the promotional tour for his debut album release.

He kicked off Friday with an appearance at BBC Radio 1 in a red checked suit deemed to replicate a laundry bag, or a tea towel. 

And later in the day he was at The One Show to perform a track, this time in bright yellow flares, with a black stripe down the leg.

Not-so-mellow yellow! Harry continues to showcase his offbeat wardrobe at The One Show in banana-coloured flares... after wearing a 'laundry bag suit' earlier in the day

He was seen sending fans into a meltdown as he crossed the forecourt outside BBC's Broadcasting House, in central London, in the loud slacks, which he teamed with a black shirt and matching loafers.

The tittering girls were seen desperately trying to locate the camera on their phones so that they could take a selfie with the 23-year-old heartthrob.

His outfit was almost an homage to Uma Thurman's Beatrix Kiddo in the Kill Bill franchise.

The black and yellow design looked very much like Uma's all-in-one jumpsuit in the same colours in the action films, which she wears to slaughter her various enemies.

Harry Kiddo? The black and yellow design looked very much like Uma's all-in-one jumpsuit in the same colours in the action films, which she wears to slaughter her various enemies

Overwhelmed: The tittering girls were seen desperately trying to locate the camera on their phones so that they could take a selfie with the 23-year-old heartthrob

Well received: Harry released his long-awaited solo album this Friday to mass enthusiasm from fans 

Harry commanded attention in a red bespoke checked suit earlier on, which he teamed with a pair of Gucci heeled loafers.

Fans were quick to point out the resemblance between the checked print on his wacky suit and various household items - including the classic laundry bag, picnic blanket, tablecloth and a pair of curtains.

Despite the comparisons, his supporters appeared to like the unusual look, with one writing: '[O]nly Harry Styles can pull off a suit that looks like a picnic blanket'. 

Bold: Harry Styles certainly made a statement as he arrived at the BBC Radio 1 studios in London on Friday, appearing to have borrowed his look from a classic laundry bag 

Remind you of something? The checked print on the One Direction star's suit appeared to resemble a red and blue checked laundry bag

Another added: 'How does Harry Styles look so f***ing hot while wearing a legit tablecloth. is2g [I swear to God] no one knows'.

Meanwhile, one fan wrote: 'I'm sorry, but my curtain is the only thing I could think of when I saw Harry in that suit'.

Not afraid to push the boundaries, the One Direction star oozed confidence as he stepped out in his statement suit and leather loafers, featuring a raised heel at the back. 

The heartthrob layered a crisp white shirt beneath the checked blazer, with a hint of his extensive tattoo collection showing through. 

Striking a pose: A plethora of female fans swamped Harry with attention after the event

Beatrix Styles: Harry has moved into acting recently, with a role in the new Dunkirk film

Play that tune: Harry was eager to perform his track on The One Show on the day his album dropped

Quick chat: The down-to-earth star was happy to chat about his solo debut 

Tatted up: The 1D star showed off his extensive body art in the long-sleeved top 

Daring: Harry layered a crisp white shirt beneath the statement blazer, with a hint of his extensive tattoo collection showing through

Pushing the boundaries: The 23-year-old commanded attention in a red tartan suit, which he teamed with a pair of heeled loafers

Heels: He wore a pair of Gucci shoes, featuring a raised heel at the back

It had been a busy day of non-stop interviews for Harry as he promoted his new self-titled album, with his debut solo single Sign Of The Times having already reached number one in the UK chart.

The classic rock-inspired record has already won praise from critics, who have described it as 'eclectic' and 'intimately emotional'.

He was left slightly red-faced while promoting his new musical efforts on Radio 1 on Friday morning. 

Harry joined Nick Grimshaw in the studio who appeared to confirm that the former X Factor star has penned a track about his ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift.

Popular: The charismatic singer's self-titled album has been eagerly awaited by fans 

Heartthrob: Harry made sure to stop and pose for selfies before making his way into the studio

Before playing Harry's tune Two Ghosts live on air, Nick described it as 'the one about Taylor Swift,' prompting Harry to reply: 'Ahhhhh no!'

Quizzed by Nick to divulge more, Harry remained coy and simply said that the song is 'self-explanatory'.

Harry also remained tight-lipped when questioned about another track found on his album, titled Carolina.

Grimmy questioned: 'Is this about a specific person, this song?' Giving little away, Harry responded 'Errr, yeah' before the radio host continued: 'And are they from Carolina, I'm guessing?'

'Be honest': Harry said he hoped fans would get the importance of being honest, open and 'vulnerable' from his album

Overwhelming support: Harry swept his hair back off his face as he chatted to fans

Again giving little away, Harry simply replied 'Yeah'. Nick then asked: 'Do they know it's about them, or did they just put on the telly and see you singing it?'

Harry replied: 'They do now,' before Nick questioned him further and pushed: 'They do now? Now after seeing it on the telly?'

The 1D star confirmed that he hadn't told the person in question about the song until after it was released, saying: 'Yeah, well it wasn't out'. 

'I hope people like it': Harry said 'a lot of the album is me trying to prove to myself that I can do something'

Fan speculation: There has been intense speculation from fans about who particular tracks on the album are about