Prince Harry Has Opened Up About Stepping Back From The Royal Family For The First Time
Prince Harry addressed his step back from the royal family in his first public appearance since the Queen announced an agreement had been reached over the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes' future.
Attending an event to benefit the Aids charity Harry co-founded, Sentebale, on Sunday evening, the Duke took the opportunity to address what we're guessing was a pretty large elephant in the room given the Queen's statement was released the night before.
Speaking at the gala event in London, Harry told the crowd that he wanted them to hear 'the truth' from him and spoke of his 'sadness' at the decision the couple have had to make.
'Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve,' he told the audience.
'For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has to come to this. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back, is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.'
The 35-year-old prince then suggested that, as the couple's initial statement announcing their 'step back' indicated, they originally hoped that they would be able to combine a reduced role in the monarchy with official duties 'serving the Queen, the commonwealth and my military associations,' however they have found it impossible.
'I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to stake a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life,' he said.
Moving speech from Prince Harry this evening at a @Sentebale event on his future #HarryandMeghan pic.twitter.com/cikHK8rAas
— Victoria Murphy (@byQueenVic) January 19, 2020
In the emotional speech, Harry thanked the charity and his supporters for taking him under their wing after his mother Princess Diana died 23 years ago and pledged to continue to be the same person devoted to charities like Sentebale going forward.
'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,' he said.
'I will continue to be the same man who holds his country dear and dedicates his life to supporting the causes, charities and military communities that are so important to me.'
Speaking on the Today programme on Monday, Sentebale's Chair Johnny Hornby said that Harry and Meghan's decision to drop their titles, public funding and position in the monarchy will not change his involvement with charities.
'We don't need his title, we just need his time and passion and he's committed to give us that,' Hornby explained.
Amid the serious tones of Harry's speech, he also gave a sweet update on his eight-month-old son Archie, revealing that he saw snow for the first time recently in Canada and thought it was 'bloody brilliant'.
Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday that an agreement with the Sussexes had been reached and that they will no longer be 'working members of the royal family' or formally represent the Queen.
They will no longer receive public funds - as they pledged to work towards in their original statement -, will not have HRH titles and wish to repay the Sovereign Grant which was used to renovate their home of Frogmore Cottage.
On Monday, Harry attended another official engagement, the UK-Africa investment summit during which he met the presidents of Mozambique and Malawi and the Prime Minister of Morocco.
Harry is rumoured to be heading back to Canada after the engagement to be reunited with Meghan and Archie.
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