Prince Harry Says He 'Never Wanted' Royal Role, Felt 'Lost and Betrayed'

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In a keynote address in Australia, Prince Harry revealed that he had rejected the royal role as early as age 12, feeling 'lost, betrayed or completely powerless' due to the constraints of the monarchy and the trauma of his mother's death. He explicitly linked the royal institution to Princess Diana's tragic passing, saying he believed her royal duties 'got her killed.' The Duke's remarks represent a significant hardening of his public critique of the British monarchy, tracing his disillusionment back to his adolescence.

Why it matters

Prince Harry's candid admission about his lifelong struggle with the royal role provides a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the psychological toll of growing up in the public eye as a member of the British royal family. His comments shed light on the complex personal and emotional factors that ultimately led to his and Meghan Markle's departure from the UK and the ongoing tensions within the monarchy.

The details

In his keynote address, Prince Harry disclosed that his desire to abdicate his institutional responsibilities took root as early as age 12, when he first vocalized his rejection of the path ahead, saying 'I don't want this job. I don't want this role - wherever this is headed, I don't like it.' The Duke explicitly linked the constraints of the monarchy to the circumstances of his mother's death in Paris, suggesting the institution itself was a primary factor in the tragedy. He told attendees he believed his mother's royal role 'got her killed,' a realization he said fueled a prolonged period of adolescent resistance.

• At age 12, Prince Harry first expressed his rejection of the royal role.
• In 2017, the Duke admitted to being close to a 'complete breakdown' after two decades of suppressed grief.
• In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle formally departed from frontline royal duties and relocated to Montecito, California.
• In 2023, Prince Harry published his memoir 'Spare,' which alleged King Charles III referred to him as a 'spare' at birth.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Prince Harry's remarks in Australia suggest no inclination toward reconciliation with the working royal fold, reinforcing his position that the role he was born into was one he 'never wanted.' The Duke's continued public critiques of the monarchy are likely to further strain his relationship with the royal family.