Prince Harry says he had 'no other option' but to Megxit: 'It brings me great sadness that it's come to this'
Prince Harry has spoken out publicly for the first time since he and Meghan Markle made the bombshell announcement to step back as senior members of the royal family.
While giving a speech at a dinner for supporters at the Sentebale Charity in London, the Duke of Sussex finally addressed why he and Meghan Markle chose to give up their "royal duties" and move part-time to Canada.
Harry started his speech, "Before I begin, I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard, or perhaps read, over the past few weeks."
"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 past 35 years, but now with a clearer perspective," he shared.
He continued, "The UK is my home and a place that I love. That will never change. I have grown up feeling supported by so many of you, and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms, as you saw the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life. Finally, the second son of Diana got hitched, hooray!"
He insisted that he and Meghan still share the same values and feelings towards the people of the UK. He spoke about the excitement they felt when they began their journey together and also the great "sadness" he felt at the situation becoming so dire.
"It brings me great sadness that it has come to this," he said in his first remarks on the agreement.
"The decision that 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," Harry said.
"What I want to make clear is, we're not walking away, and we certainly aren't walking away from you," he affirmed.
He also proceeded to thank the crowd for taking "me under your wing" when he lost his mother, Princess Diana, around 23 years ago. He concluded his speech saying that he has the "utmost respect" for his grandmother and is very grateful for the support his family has shown him.
"What I want to make clear is, we're not walking away, and we certainly aren't walking away from you," Harry shared.
He also expressed sorrow that his military titles had been taken away from him. He said: "Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible."
He added, "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. We are taking a leap of faith — thank you for giving me the courage to take this next step," he concluded his speech.