After weeks of silence, Prince Harry, or simply “Harry” as he refers to himself, is breaking his silence and telling his truth about what really happened.
While speaking at the dinner for supporters of Sentebale in London, Harry addressed the fact that he and Meghan have stepped down from their royal duties.
“Before I begin, I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard or perhaps read over the past few weeks,” he began.
“So, I want you to hear the truth from me.”
“As much as I can share, not as a Prince or a Duke but as Harry. The same person that many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years but now with a clearer perspective.”
“The UK is my home and a place that I love. That will never change,” he went on.
“I have grown up feeling supported from so many of you and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life.
Finally, the second son of Diana got hitched. Hooray ,” he quipped.
“I also know that you’ve come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do- and she does.”
“And she’s the same woman I fell in love with. We both do everything we can to fly the flag and carry out our roles for this country with pride.”
“Once Meghan and I were married we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve. For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this.”
“This decision I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly.”
“It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.
“What I want to make clear is, we’re not walking away.”
“And we certainly aren’t walking away from you. Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the commonwealth and my military associations but without public funding.”
“Unfortunately that was impossible,” he went on.
“I’ve accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am, or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had come to. That I would step my family back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”
“I was born into this life and it is a great honor to serve my country and the Queen.”
“When I lost my mom 23 years ago you took me under your wing.”
“You looked out for me for so long.”
“But the media is a powerful force. And my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us. It has been our privilege to serve you and we will continue to lead a life of service so, in that respect, nothing changes.”
“It has also been a privilege to meet so many of you and to feel your excitement for us and Archie, who saw snow for the first time the other day — thought it was bloody brilliant.”
“I will always have the utmost respect for my grandmother, my commander in chief.”
“And I am incredibly grateful to her and the rest of my family for the support they have shown Meghan and I over the last few months. I will continue to be the same man who holds his country dear and dedicates his life to supporting the causes, charities and military communities that are so important to me.”
“Together, you have given me an education about living.”
“And this role has taught me more about what is right and just than can ever have imagined.
We are taking a leap of faith so thank you for giving me the courage to take this next step,” he finished .
It was a mere 24 hours prior that the Queen released a statement of her own, releasing Harry and Meghan of their royal duties.
“Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family,” it read.
“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family,” it continued .
“I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.”
“I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.”
“It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
It seems that things are finally falling into place for Harry and Meghan, and we can’t wait to see where this next step takes them!
