DEVASTATED HARRY: WHY I HAD TO GO
Emotional Prince speaks for first time about stepping down
AN EMOTIONAL Prince Harry has admitted he and Meghan are sad they can no longer represent the Queen, but feel they had no other option.
In his first speech since their exit deal, he told a charity audience last night: “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 with a clearer perspective.
“The UK is my home and a place that I love. That will never change.
“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!
“I also know 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.
“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. 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 know I haven’t always gotten 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 to come to. That I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life. 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, and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us.” In his speech to supporters of his Sentebale African Aids charity at London’s The Ivy, he added: “It has been our privilege to serve you, and we will continue to lead a life of service.
“It has also been a privilege to meet so many of you, and to feel your excitement for our son Archie, who saw snow for the first time the other day and thought it was bloody brilliant! I will always have the utmost respect for my grandmother, my commander-inchief, 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. 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. Together, you have given me an education about living. And this role has taught me more about what is right and just than I could have ever imagined.
“We are taking a leap of faith – thank you for giving me the courage to take this next step.”
Meanwhile, the Queen is said to be deeply upset she will see little of Archie following the deal.
Senior royals feel “huge sadness that the family will not get to see Archie grow up”, a royal source said.
A royal source said: “The overriding feeling among the family is certainly one of immense sadness. Sadness that Harry and Meghan felt they could no longer carry on inside the family and huge sadness that the family will not get to see Archie grow up. It is hoped after a period of reflection, they will want to spend more time in the UK.”
Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have only seen Archie a handful of times. The Prince of Wales is thought to fear the distance will make it hard to establish a close relationship.
A source who knows the Royal Family said: “Where will Archie’s heritage and roots be? What about Diana’s family, the Spencers?
“Harry and William know all too well how damaging an unsettled childhood can be. It’s one of the reasons William has sought to keep everything as stable and normal as possible for his children.”