Prince Harry once described his brother, Prince William, and their father, King Charles III, as "trapped" within the confines of the British monarchy, suggesting they did not have the option to leave royal life as he did. These remarks were made during a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, alongside his wife Meghan Markle.
"Trapped within the system like the rest of the family. My father and my brother are trapped. They don’t get to leave and I have huge compassion for that," Harry stated during the interview. When asked if William also wished to leave the system, Harry replied that he could not speak for his brother.
Regarding his father, Harry noted that King Charles III had "made peace with it," referring to what Harry described as a "toxic environment." Harry explained that witnessing his wife's struggles with royal life prompted him to re-evaluate his own family's approach to such issues. He recalled experiencing a "very dark place" himself and feeling ashamed to admit his feelings to the family, as they often adhered to a mentality of "this is just how it is."
The Duke of Sussex shared that he felt he had "no one to turn to" within the family, as they were all accustomed to the restrictive nature of their roles.
Harry and William have experienced a strained relationship since 2018, which was further exacerbated by Harry's subsequent interviews and his 2023 memoir, "Spare." A source told People last month that the brothers' bond remains "so broken," with no signs of reconciliation from William's side.
Prince Harry also previously indicated that his late mother, Princess Diana, had envisioned him raising his family in the United States. He shared at the 2024 New York Times DealBook Summit that living in the U.S. allowed him to do things with his children that he wouldn't have been able to do in the UK. He expressed gratitude for this freedom and stated he planned to stay in the U.S. indefinitely. Earlier that year, he mentioned considering U.S. citizenship but noted it was not a high priority.
The family recently visited Althorp, Princess Diana's childhood home, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The visit occurred after Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children at Highgrove House, marking the monarch's first time seeing his grandchildren in four years.