Prince Harry said he believes "the British public are on my side" and repeated advice from his wife, Meghan Markle, to "just stick to the truth" during remarks made while visiting Kyiv as part of his work with the Invictus Games.
The duke, who spent four days in Britain last week meeting charities and holding a longstanding family reconciliation meeting with King Charles, told reporters and interviewers that he has "a lot of support from the British public" and that he and his wife subscribe to a simple rule: "She said 'just stick to the truth'. It is the thing I always fall back on. Always." He added, "If you think like that, who would be stupid enough to lie? It takes up too much time and effort."
Speaking to the Guardian, Harry rejected suggestions that he is unhappy in California, saying, "I’m not. I am very happy with who I am and I like the life that I live." He acknowledged having faced "very stressful events over the last four years," including litigation and revelations that he said had caused him pain, but said assumptions about his state of mind were often wrong.
The duke said his recent UK trip, which included a visit linked to the Diana Award and other engagements, brought him "closer" to the prospect of his children visiting Britain. When asked whether he would consider returning to the UK with his son Archie and daughter Lilibet, Harry said, "Yes I would. This week has definitely brought that closer." He has previously said he would like reconciliation with his family but has also stressed the need for truth before rapprochement.
Harry defended his memoir Spare and the Netflix series that he and Meghan produced, saying the projects were not motivated by revenge. "The book? It was a series of corrections to stories already out there. One point of view had been put out and it needed to be corrected," he said, adding, "I don't believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear. It is not about revenge, it is about accountability." He also said, "You cannot have reconciliation before you have truth."
The duke travelled from Britain to Poland and then by train to Kyiv, where he visited a makeshift memorial to Ukrainian and foreign soldiers and met wounded veterans as part of his ongoing support for Invictus Games initiatives. His trip to the region came after his four-day solo visit to the UK, which his office described as an opportunity to "support the incredible work of the causes that mean so much to him." Harry's last face-to-face meeting with the king was described by aides as the first in 19 months.
The 416-page Spare, published in 2023, included a range of personal revelations and accusations about life inside the royal household that provoked widespread media coverage and public debate. The memoir became the fastest-selling non-fiction title in the UK after its release. Some of the claims, including those aired in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, prompted an unprecedented palace statement that said "recollections may vary." Harry has said his disclosures were intended to correct existing narratives rather than to exact vengeance.
Harry's comments also touched on security and practical matters. He confirmed reports that he would consider bringing his children to the UK despite the withdrawal of official police protection following his decision to step back from senior royal duties. The duke said his recent time in Britain had made such a visit more likely.
Royal officials and family friends have offered varying accounts of the recent meetings and the prospects for a wider family reconciliation. A royal source quoted in some media accounts said the visit could mark a beginning of a rebuilt relationship that would allow extended family functions to resume, though they stopped short of forecasting a permanent return to life in Britain for Harry and his family.
Harry also reflected on the personal toll of public disputes and litigation, saying he had had to cope with stress and painful discoveries in recent years. He travelled to Kyiv to continue advocacy on behalf of veterans and to underline his long-standing association with Invictus Games work.
He and Meghan, who are based in Montecito, California, were reported to have celebrated his return with friends and family; the duchess posted an image on social media showing a shared moment after his arrival. Harry's spokesperson described his UK engagements as warmly received and emphasised his desire to support the charities he has championed.
The duke's trip and his public comments are likely to renew attention to questions about the future relationship between the Sussexes and the working royal family, security arrangements for royal children, and the line between personal testimony and public accountability. For now, Harry has framed his approach in terms of a personal ethic: that telling the truth is the most efficient way to live and a necessary precursor to reconciliation.