Daily US Times: Prince Harry has said he had to step back from royal duties to protect himself and his family from the “toxic” situation created by the UK press which were destroying his mental health.’
The Duke of Sussex told TV chat show host James Corden it was “destroying my mental health” and he “did what any husband [or] father would do”.
Last week, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the prince and his wife Meghan would not resume royal duties.
Mr Harry insisted they were “stepping back rather than stepping down”.
The couple moved to California with their one-year-old son Archie after announcing their plan to step back as senior working royals last January.
They, who are expecting their second child, said at the time that they wanted to work to become financially independent.
Buckingham Palace said in the last week that the duke and duchess would not return to royal duties, following a planned review of the arrangements.
As a result, they will have to return their honorary royal patronages and military appointments.
In a segment for Corden’s US TV programme The Late Late Show, Price Harry joined the British presenter on a double-decker bus tour of Los Angeles.
Asked by Corden about their decision to walk away from royal duties, Prince Harry insisted it “was never walking away, it was stepping back rather than stepping down”.
Harry added: “It was a really difficult environment as a lot of people saw. We all know what the British press can be like. And it was destroying my mental health. I was like, this is toxic.”
Corden asked how Harry sees his future after lockdown restrictions are lifted, the duke said: “My life is always going to be about public service and Meghan signed up to that.”
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