Prince Harry is paving a new way for the British Royal Family.
Gone are the days of stiff upper lip, and sticking to tight boundaries.
Today, we’re enlightened by their real-life struggles, pain and strong family unit.
The 32-year-old recently sat down with Newsweek for one of the most thought-provoking interviews of this year.
The article explored every facet of the Prince’s life, touching on one of his greatest hardships – the loss of his mother and how he found a comforting solace in his friendship with his sister-in-law, Duchess Catherine.
Prince Harry shared incredible detail about his personal life.
Showcasing his humour, Harry joked “[The Crown’s] great but I wish they’d stopped at the end of the first series. They absolutely must not move on to the younger generation.”
Finding family in Kate Middleton
Talking to Angela Levin, he shared how his brother’s wife, Duchess Catherine, helped him in unimaginable ways.
“There was no filling the hole left by Diana’s death, and Harry seemed to be growing up without someone emotionally available he could lean on,” the article reveals.
“Kate has helped fill some of that gap. When she and William got engaged, Harry called her the big sister he never had. He often pops into their apartment at Kensington Palace, where she cooks him a meal — roast chicken is reportedly a particular favorite.”
The royal trio all live together at Kensington Palace in London.
Harry describes Kate as his “big sister”.
While she can help in the tough times, it’s clear the duo love to have a laugh together.
Prince Harry lives in a two-bedroom cottage on the grounds, while Wills and Kate live in a 22-room apartment in the palace itself.
The fact that they’re physically so close to one another has been a definite win in their friendship.
“Kate has quite a different relationship with Harry than she has with William. Harry appeals to her sillier side because he is carefree, footloose and loves banter. He finds things funny about people and says so,” a source told the Daily Mail last year.
“Kate also adores the way Harry plays with her children — he is very good with them, a charming big kid and silly uncle.”
“Harry appeals to her sillier side.”
Uncle Harry describes his niece and nephew as “everything”.
For Harry, his niece and nephew give him a lot to smile about.
During his chat, the royal addressed now becoming fifth in line to the throne thanks to Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
“The reason I am now fifth is because of my nephew and niece and I could never wish them away,” he tells Angela.
“They are the most amazing things ever.”
While we see very little of Harry with the little ones, Michelle Obama shared the sweetest Prince George and Uncle Harry story… Check it out in the video player. Article continues
The death of People’s Princess scarred Harry for life
Reading Harry talk so passionately about the children in his life, it’s heartbreaking to think about the very public struggle he faced after the death of his mum, Princess Diana back in 1997.
Her funeral was nearly 20 years ago, but Harry, who was just 12-years-old, looks back at that day as one of the worst.
“My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television,” he recalls, with Newsweek observing his facing hardening as he continued, “I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances.”
“I don’t think it would happen today.”
Harry’s recollection of his mother’s funeral has left him with lifelong wounds.
Harry was just 12 when he lost his mum
From Nazi costumes to the humanitarian Prince
Royal fans across the world would be familiar with Harry’s antics.
Regulatory deemed the “bad boy Prince” – there’s not much the 32-year-old hasn’t done.
Newsweek describe him as a man that “ran with a wealthy, fast set, and smoked and drank too much.”
For a period, images of Harry naked, dressed in politically incorrect costumes, drinking/smoking and partying like it was 1999 were regular occurrences.
But something changed for him.
Harry has openly addressed that during his Eton days, he wanted to be a bad boy: “I didn’t enjoy school at all. When I was at school I wanted to be the bad boy.”
It was his time in the armed forces that “straightened him out” – with Harry calling it, “the best escape I’ve ever had.”
“My search began when I was in my mid-20s,” Harry explained to Angela.
“I needed to fix the mistakes I was making.”
Earlier this year, Harry shared with the public that he bottled up his grief over his mother’s death led to two years of “total chaos,” and that he was “very close” to a breakdown several times.
When he was 28, on William’s advice, he sought professional help.
“My mother died when I was very young. I didn’t want to be in the position I was in, but I eventually pulled my head out of the sand, started listening to people and decided to use my role for good. I am now fired up and energized and love charity stuff, meeting people and making them laugh,” he said.
“I sometimes still feel I am living in a goldfish bowl, but I now manage it better. I still have a naughty streak too, which I enjoy and is how I relate to those individuals who have got themselves into trouble.”
The boys were just 15 and 12 respectively when their mother died in a car crash.
Harry famously mused, “When she died, there was a gaping hole, not just for us but also for a huge amount of people across the world.”
Loving Meghan Markle and living an “ordinary life”
Royals and celebrities alike love that spiel “leading an ordinary life”.
The reality is, when you live in palace – it’s to hard to understand what “ordinary” is.
But the 32-year-old still maintains he wants to be just like us.
“My mother took a huge part in showing me an ordinary life, including taking me and my brother to see homeless people. Thank goodness I’m not completely cut off from reality.”
Continuing, “People would be amazed by the ordinary life William and I live. I do my own shopping. Sometimes, when I come away from the meat counter in my local supermarket, I worry someone will snap me with their phone.”
“But I am determined to have a relatively normal life, and if I am lucky enough to have children, they can have one too.”
He paused, then added, “Even if I was king, I would do my own shopping.”
Harry’s romance with Meghan has taken the world by storm
But the royal wants to enjoy their relationship outside the public scrutiny
With that same note, Harry would very much like to love who he wants to love.
While his parents underwent incredible pain choosing their duty over matters of the heart, the 32-year-old has no desire to be a victim of that curse.
Harry is dating Meghan Markle – a popular actress who happens to be “a divorcée, a vocal feminist and American, none of which conforms to the stereotype of a royal consort.”
According to the publication, “One person close to the prince says Harry is not rushing to ‘get things done’—royal-speak for proposing.”
“They obviously get on very well and have a lot in common, but they have not known each other that long. They need to find out if they can have an ordinary relationship within a very unusual setting. I don’t think anything will happen until the end of the year.”
While Harry is exceptionally tight-lipped about his girlfriend, many have cited Meghan as being the catalyst for his openness about his mental health struggles.
Shutting down the topic, he said, “Absolutely she did not.”
Harry’s popularity is undoubtedly because of his ability to relate and touch people’s lives.
Harry hopes to continue his Granny’s incredible work
Wanting out of the Royal Family
Prince Harry himself describes his life as a “tricky balancing act.”
Given everything he’s faced, it’s little wonder that there was a period that he no longer wanted to be tied down by the burden that surrounds his title.
“We are involved in modernising the British monarchy. We are not doing this for ourselves but for the greater good of the people… Is there any one of the royal family who wants to be king or queen? I don’t think so, but we will carry out our duties at the right time.”
Harry confessed that “there was a time I felt I wanted out,” but his time in the army and his loyalty to his Granny changed that.
“I spent many years kicking my heels and I didn’t want to grow up,” Harry said. “I felt I wanted out, but then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself.”
Today, Harry believes the “monarchy is a force for good,” before adding: “We want to carry on the positive atmosphere that the queen has achieved for over 60 years, but we won’t be trying to fill her boots.”
And from everything we’ve seen of the prince and his family – they’re achieving that and so much more.
For Prince Harry’s entire interview – head to Newsweek.com
The Prince sees a place for the monarch.
“Monarchy is a force for good.”
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