Prince Harry reveals he considered leaving the royal family
Prince Harry has been extraordinarily candid lately, opening up about his mental health struggles following the tragic death of mother Princess Diana as well as giving a rare insight into the pressures of being a monarch.
But in one of his most honest interviews yet, Prince Harry has admitted he once considered leaving the royal family to lead a normal life.
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, the 32-year-old revealed "there was a time I felt I wanted out".
He called his time in the army the “best escape I’ve ever had.”
“I felt as though I was really achieving something,” Harry said. “I have a deep understanding of all sorts of people from different backgrounds and felt I was part of a team.”
“I wasn’t a Prince, I was just Harry.”
The royal also spoke about his resentment when his presence in the army was leaked to the press.
After 10 weeks in Afghanistan in 2007, Prince Harry had to be pulled from the front lines for security reasons due to a magazine revealing his location.
“I spent many years kicking my heels and I didn’t want to grow up,” he shared, pointing to the years of partying that followed.
It was at this point Harry considered leaving the royal life, but he said the loyalty to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, made him stay.
“I felt I wanted out but then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself,” he said.
With the help of the Queen, Harry continued his royal duties and found the right path for him.
“We don’t want to be just a bunch of celebrities but instead use our role for good,” he said.
The charities that he and his brother, Prince William, have chosen are carefully considered.
“We are incredibly passionate with our charities and they have been chosen because they are on the path shown to me by our mother,” he said. “I love charity stuff and meeting people.”