TOPLINE Prince Harry appeared on an episode of James Corden’s ‘The Late Late Show’ that aired early on Friday, where he said he never walked away from the British royal family but he had to step back as the “toxic” British press was having an impact on his mental health, just a week after he and his wife Meghan Markle announced they will not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.
KEY FACTS
The free-wheeling chat featured Corden and Harry riding on an open top bus in Los Angeles, visiting the house from ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and both of them running an obstacle course.
Besides the light-hearted segments, Harry opened up about his family’s decision to not return as working royals, clarifying, “It was never walking away,” and adding that he and Meghan were “stepping back rather than stepping down.”
Harry opened up about facing a “really difficult environment” and blamed the “toxic” British press for “destroying” his mental health.
The Duke of Sussex then noted that he did what any husband or father would do and finally made the decision that “I need to get my family out of here.”
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CRUCIAL QUOTE
Harry reiterated that he never walked away, stating: “And as far as I’m concerned, and whatever decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away. I will always be contributing. But my life is public service. So wherever I am in the world it’s going to be the same thing.”
TANGENT
Harry, who has secured a lucrative deal with Netflix along with his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was asked about the streaming service’s historical drama series ‘The Crown’ which portrays his grandmother Queen Elizabeth and the rest of his family. Harry said the show doesn’t “pretend to be news, it’s fictional. But it’s loosely based on the truth.” While noting that the show was not “not strictly accurate,” Harry said it gives people a rough idea about the lifestyle and “the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else and what can come from that.”
SURPRISING FACT
Harry also revealed that the Queen gifted his one-year-old son a waffle maker for Christmas.
KEY BACKGROUND
Last week Buckingham Palace announced that Harry and Meghan—the Duke and Duchess of Sussex—would not be returning as working members of the Royal Family a year after stepping down as senior royals. The announcement followed a year-long review in which the couple first moved to Canada and then to the U.S. Both have stopped using Royal HRH titles and they will be returning all honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by them to the Queen. In the past year the two of them have managed to secure deals with Netflix and Spotify.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Both Harry and Meghan will appear in an interview with Oprah Winfrey next month. The interview will air as a prime time special on CBS on March 7 in what is being pitched as a “wide-ranging interview” about their experience after leaving the royal fold. As with all things Harry and Meghan, the interview has sparked controversy in the British press, particularly its timing. The interview is scheduled just hours after the Queen broadcasts her pre-recorded message on BBC’s A Celebration for Commonwealth Day as part of an annual Commonwealth Day tradition.
FURTHER READING
Harry And Meghan Will Not Return As Working Members Of Britain’s Royal Family (Forbes)
Harry and Meghan Oprah interview to air hours after Queen’s Commonwealth message (The Guardian)
By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff
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