Prince Harry has suffered a lot amid royal family fallout and now he just wants a normal life, says close friend
According to Prince Harry's longtime close friend Nacho Figueras, the royal longs to live "a normal life".
The 42-year-old professional polo player opened up during a new ABC special 'Royal Divide: Harry, Meghan, and the Crown' and said how he had watched from close quarters the kind of pain Harry had to go through leading up to his and Meghan Markle's bombshell royal exit.
“I spoke to Harry a few days ago,” Figueras shared on the special, which premiered on January 29. “He has suffered a lot from all of the things that have happened to him. He suffers a lot from people judging him.”
Figueras then went on to explain why he supports his dear friend's decision, People reports.
“He’s being a father… a guy who is trying to protect his cub and his lioness," he said. “He has become an incredible man, a man that his mother would be proud of,” Figueras said, referring to the late Princess Diana.
According to Figueras, Harry is doing what's best for his family and simply “wants to live a normal life.”
“As normal as his life is going to be, right? Because when you have 1,000 paparazzi outside your house in Canada waiting to get one picture of your son, that’s not very, very normal,” he added.
On January 8, Meghan and Harry announced their decision to step down as senior royals and split their time between Britain and North America. The Duchess of Sussex subsequently flew to Canada -- where the family spent Christmas holidays -- to reunite with Archie. Meanwhile, Harry stayed back in England to discuss and formalize the new changes with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and elder brother Prince William.
Harry eventually reunited with his family in Vancouver after carrying out a series of royal engagements back home, and the trio have remained there since.
Queen Elizabeth released a statement addressing the couple's intention to stay in Canada during the "period of transition" to their new roles.
“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” the 93-year-old monarch had said in the statement. “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family."