Prince Harry reveals royal life was 'destroying my mental health' but vows to 'never walk away'

Prince Harry has revealed the devastating impact of royal life on his mental health in a candid new interview with James Corden

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 05: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 5, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Prince Harry has opened up about his withdrawal from the Royal Family for the first time, in an exclusive interview on the Late Late Show with James Corden on Thursday. 

Prince Harry has shared the real reason behind his notorious royal departure in a candid new interview on the Late Late Show with James Corden. 

The surprising appearance, which aired six days after the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle confirmed they are never coming back to the royal family, invited viewers to spend an afternoon with Harry and James as they explored the wealthy Los Angeles suburbs on an open-air tour bus. The two friends chatted about a variety of topics on their adventure, including fatherhood, fame, and perhaps most notably, abandoning Buckingham Palace for a new life in California.

Speaking to the host of the popular CBS talk show, the Duke of Sussex addressed his decision to ‘step back’ as a senior royal - clearing up some of the common misconceptions about the highly-scrutinized departure. 

“It was never walking away,” he said. “It was stepping back rather than stepping down.” 

Harry went on to explain the reasons behind the couple’s emigration, citing the media pressure as a major contributing factor. 

“It was a really difficult environment, as I think a lot of people saw,” he said. “We all know what the British press can be like."

This is far from the first time Harry has criticized his home country’s media. He has taken legal action against the British tabloids multiple times, accusing them of libel and privacy invasion on different occasions. 

The constant negative coverage of his marriage was understandably overwhelming for the royal, who had witnessed his late mother, Princess Diana, subject to the same vicious treatment. 

“It was destroying my mental health,” he revealed. “I was like, this is toxic.” 

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

Harry may have broken all ties with the British tabloid press, but he insists he will never reject the royal family. 

“We never walked away, and as far as I’m concerned, whatever decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away,” he said. 

Harry added that he and Meghan have no plans to hide away when the Covid-19 restrictions in California lift. While he did not share specifics on his upcoming projects, he confirmed that he remains committed to serving his community. 

“My life is public service, so wherever I am in the world, it’s always going to be the same thing.” 

More details on Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life will be revealed on March 7, when their highly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey airs on CBS. The 90-minute special, which has already been filmed, will reportedly dig deep into the couple’s new life in California - covering everything from their experiences as parents to the pressures of worldwide fame. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.