Prince Harry has spoken out for the first time since it was announced that he and his wife, Meghan Markle, would be resigning from all royal duties come Spring 2020.
In a heartfelt speech delivered at a dinner for Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in 2006 to support those affected by HIV and AIDS, the Duke of Sussex expressed feeling “great sadness” over his and Meghan’s decision to entirely step back from royal life, saying they were left with “no other option.”
He told the audience that he wanted them “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,” Harry said, adding that he knows the public has come to know him well enough to trust that the woman he has chosen as his wife upholds the same values as he does.
“Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve,” Harry told the crowd at The Ivy Chelsea Garden restaurant in London.
He explained that the decision to step back was not one “made lightly” and that it came after “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,” said Harry. “What I want to make clear is we’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you.”
Harry added that he and Meghan had hoped to continue serving the Queen, the commonwealth, and his military associations, without public funding, but that it “ultimately 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 take a 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.”
He continued: “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.”
“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,” Harry said.
“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.”
Buckingham Palace announced Saturday that Harry and Meghan are “no longer working members of the Royal Family.” The couple will also stop using their ‘HRH’ titles (His Royal Highness, Her Royal Highness.) They will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Harry will remain sixth in line to the British throne.
For more on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new arrangement: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use royal highness titles or represent the Queen’
Watch Prince Harry’s speech at the Sentebale dinner in its entirety here
Photo credit: Getty Images
