Prince Harry speaks out on royal exit: 'I want you to hear the truth from me'
A day after his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II announced that he and wife Meghan Markle would give up their HRH titles and pay back the millions spent on having their home at Windsor renovated, Prince Harry has addressed the couple’s decision to step back as senior members of the royal family.
Speaking a dinner for the Sentebale charity, which he founded, on Sunday night, the royal reassured supporters of his love for his home country but explained some of the reasoning behind distancing himself from his official duties.
Royal correspondents report that Harry expressed the “utmost respect” for the queen and spoke of the support he’s received from his family. According to ITV’s Chris Ship, he joked about “finally” getting “hitched” to Meghan in 2018, while the Daily Mail’s Rebecca English reports that he referred to the duchess as “the same woman I fell in love with.”
Both correspondents noted that the prince added that “it brings me great sadness that it has come to this” in reference to the royal exit.
I will always have the utmost respect for my grandmother, my commander in chief, and I am incredibly grateful to her and the rest of my family, for the support they have shown Meghan and I over the last few months.
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) January 19, 2020
....you’ve come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do. And she does, and she’s the same woman I fell in love with.
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) January 19, 2020
We both do everything we can to fly the flag and carry out our roles for this country with pride. Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve.
For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this.— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) January 19, 2020
Prince Harry also said: "The UK is my home and a place that I love, that will never change."
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 19, 2020
Harry told his charity: “I have grown up feeling support from so many of you, and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life. Finally, the second son of Diana got hitched, hurray!”
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 19, 2020
In video footage shared by Ship, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana spoke of the controversy surrounding his decision to move his family to North America.
Related Video: Prince Harry, Meghan to Give Up Royal Titles
“I can only imagine what you may have heard or perhaps read over the past few weeks,” he said. “So I want you to hear the truth from me, as much as I can share. Not as a prince, or a duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years, but now with a clearer perspective.”
He went on to add that his decision was “not made lightly,” sharing that he had hoped to stay on as a senior royal without public funding, a proposal that didn’t pan out.
“It was so many months of talks, after so many years of challenges,” he continued. “And I know I haven’t always got it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. What I want to make clear is: We’re not walking away. And we certainly aren’t walking away from you.
“Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. I’ve accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step my family back from all I had ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”
The father to 8-month-old Archie went on to reference the media scrutiny his family has received,” calling it a “powerful force.”
“I was born into this life, and it is a great honor to serve my country and the queen. When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing. You’ve looked out for me for so long, but the media is a powerful force.”
He added that he and Meghan plan to continue to “lead a life of service,” and said that the couple considered it a “privilege” to receive support from the public.
VIDEO: Prince Harry speaking time tonight at a @Sentebale dinner: “I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life.”#HarryandMeghan pic.twitter.com/Aix8a1JVOU
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 19, 2020
Blimey. A really moving speech from Prince Harry tonight:
“What I want to make clear is we’re not walking away ...Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”
VIDEO 👇 pic.twitter.com/YU1fCfJIMq— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 19, 2020
WATCH: Confirmation Prince Harry does blame the media 👇
“I was born into this life, and it is a great honour to serve my country and the Queen.
When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing.
You’ve looked out for me for so long, but the media is a powerful force.” pic.twitter.com/TFMn4jUc1i— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 19, 2020
More Harry video from that speech tonight:
“I will always have the utmost respect for my grandmother, my commander in chief, and I am incredibly grateful to her and the rest of my family, for the support they have shown Meghan and I over the last few months.”#HarryandMeghan pic.twitter.com/VltWqu5voT— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 19, 2020
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