Yahoo Finance Prince Harry’s bombshell interview: Meghan and I did not walk away... I did what any husband would do
The Duke of Sussex has opened up about his decision to step back from royal life, insisting he will “never walk away”, in an extraordinary new interview with James Corden.
Prince Harry said his life would “always be about public service” and that he had “stepped back not stepped away” when he and wife Meghan decided to move away from the Royal Family.
The tell-all chat was filmed before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed they would not be returning as working members of the royal family.
But Harry addressed the couple’s decision to step down as senior royals and relocate to the US, as he toured LA in a double-decker bus with Corden as part of The Late Late show.
The duke also opened up about family life, mental health and addressed the controversy over The Crown’s portrayal of his family’s history.
He said: “My life is always going to be about public service and Meghan signed up to that.”
On the decision to leave the UK and step back from senior royal duties, the 36-year-old said it “was never walking away, it was stepping back rather than stepping down”.
He added that it was a “really difficult environment” and criticised the press, saying the “toxic” coverage of their lives was “destroying my mental health”.
“I did what any husband and what any father would do... I thought‘I need to get my family out of here’... but we never walked away.
“As far as I’m concerned, whatever decisions were made on that side, I will never walk away, I will always be contributing.
“My life is public service. Wherever I am in the world, it’s going to be the same thing.”
In another segment, Harry gave his thoughts on The Crown, which has been criticised for inaccurately portraying historic events in the Royal Family.
Asked what he thinks about the show, Harry replied: “They don’t pretend to be news, it’s fictional but it’s loosely based on the truth.
“Of course it’s not strictly accurate, but, loosely, it gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle, what the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else, what can come from that.
All aboard! James is taking Prince Harry for a double-decker tour of Los Angeles and it starts NOW 🚌 pic.twitter.com/hQGwfsjqyX
— The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) February 26, 2021
“I am way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife or myself.”
He said The Crown is “obviously fiction” whereas he has a “real issue” with some of the stories written about him.
The duke also spoke about his early relationship with Meghan, 39.
He said dating for him or any member of the royal family is “flipped upside down”, telling Corden that early dates take place at home and only when they are a couple do they venture out in public.
“We got to spend an enormous amount of time just the two of us,” he said of his early relationship with Meghan. “There were no distractions, and that was great, it was an amazing thing. We went from zero to 60 in the first two months.”
Asked what a “regular night in” for the couple is like, Harry said they may make Archie’s tea, give him a bath and read him a book before he and Meghan spend time together.
He said they may watch game show Jeopardy! or something on Netflix.
The segment opened with Corden telling the duke to pay the fare before jumping on the bus. Harry quipped: “You know us royals – we don’t carry cash.”
Corden served him afternoon tea while pointing out celebrity homes, including what he claimed were those of Friends star David Schwimmer and Die Hard actor Bruce Willis.
During a visit to the house that featured in 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Harry rapped the famous theme song, which was originally performed by Will Smith.
Corden tried to convince him to buy the sprawling mansion before the duke went inside to use the bathroom.
The pair then video-called Meghan, who, in response to Corden’s suggestion they buy the house, joked: “I think we’ve done enough moving.”
She then asked “Haz” how his tour of Los Angeles was going, and he said Corden was “the worst tour guide in LA”.
Harry and a reluctant Corden also tackled an assault course, with the TV host complaining about getting dirty.
Harry also joked he would want red-headed Homeland star Damian Lewis to play him.
Harry and Meghan, who are expecting their second child, will appear in a US primetime TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, which is set to be broadcast on March 7.
The couple are expected to discuss their life in America.
Read More
Best moments from Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with James Corden
How Oprah Winfrey became Hollywood royalty
Spotify defends multi-million pound Harry and Meghan podcast deal
