Prince Harry: British press ‘were destroying my mental health’

SA isang rare one-on-one interview isiniwalat ni Britain’s Prince Harry na iniwan niya ang kanyang royal life dahil sa British press na “destroying” ng kanyang mental health, at ang pag-amin na pinanonood niya ang The Crown.

Ibinahagi ni Harry ang kanyang intimate insight sa bagong buhay ng kanyang pamilya sa Los Angeles sa isang open-top bus tour of the city kasama si The Late Late Show host James Corden.

“We all know what the British press can be like, and it was destroying my mental health,” pagbabahagi ni Harry, na lumipat sa United States kasama ang kanyang wife na si Meghan Markle nitong nakaraang taon.

“I was, like, this is toxic. So I did what any husband and what any father would do. I need to get my family out of here.”

Enero 2020, ginulat ni Harry at Meghan ang mundo matapos ianunsiyo ng dalawa ang pagbaba sa kanyang royal duties na yumanig sa royal family ng Britain, at tinawag ng British newspapers na “Mexit.”

Nitong nakaraang buwan lamang, inanunsiyo ng Buckingham Palace na permanenteng tinalukuran na ng mag-asawa ang kanilang royal duties matapos ang one-year review ng bagong arrangement.

Iniutos naman ni Queen Elizabeth II sa Duke and Duchess of Sussex, na dating pagkakakilanlan ng dalawa, na talikuran ang kanilang honorary titles at patronages.

“It was never walking away,” paglilinaw ni Harry, 36, kay Corden. “It was stepping back rather than stepping down. It was a really difficult environment.”

Matagal nang may lamat ang relasyon ni Harry sa Britain’s tabloids, kung saan isinisisi ng prinsipe ang pagkikialam ng press na nagtulak sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ina, na si Princess Diana sa isang car crash noong 1997.

Nitong Pebrero, wagi si Meghan sa isang high-profile privacy claim laban sa Associated Newspapers matapos ilabas ang isang private letter na para sa kanyang estranged father.

Samantala, sinabi naman ni Harry na “he was more comfortable” sa portrayal ng royal family sa hit Netflix series na “The Crown” kumpara sa mga newspaper stories na isinulat tungkol sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya.

“They don’t pretend to be news. It’s fictional,” giit ni Harry.

“It’s loosely based on the truth. Of course, it’s not strictly accurate, but 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.”

Nais naman ni Harry, nananatiling sixth in line sa trono, na makita ang aktor na si Damian Lewis na gumanap sa kanya sa future series.

Aminado rin ang prinsipe na first time niya sa isang open-top bus. Sa show, binisita nina Harry at James ang bahay mula sa hit 1990s US TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Inilarawan din ni Harry ang kanilang buhay sa Santa Barbara home.

“Depending on how the day’s been and how busy it’s been, we do Archie’s tea, give him a bath, read him a book, put him down, go downstairs.

“Meg might cook a meal, might order a takeaway, go upstairs sit in bed, turn the TV on, watch some Jeopardy, maybe watch a little bit of Netflix,” pagbabahagi pa ni Harry.

Ang interview ay inilabas isang linggo bago iere ang kontrobersiyal na panayam ni

Oprah Winfrey kay Meghan.