The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and his wife Meghan Markel in an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 (Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese v)
Prince Harry tells Oprah Winfrey in an explosive interview on Sunday that he and Meghan are “using what her mother left her” to make a living after giving up royal duties.
Harry’s late mother, the Princess of Wales, had a very strained relationship with the royal family. “I think she saw it coming,” said Harry, 36, speaking of Diana’s foresight that he would step down from his duties and give her financial security for the future.
In January 2020, the Sussexes announced they were stepping down as “senior” members of the royal family. The couple announced the decision via a statement on their Instagram page, writing: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have decided to make a transition this year to begin playing a progressive role within this institution take over. We intend to step down as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work towards becoming financially independent whilst proceeding with the full support of Her Majesty The Queen.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in Santa Barbara, California.
“I have what my mother left me and we couldn’t have done this without it,” she said of moving to the United States and stepping down from her royal duties.
Both William and Harry received sums of £6.5million each from their mother, the Princess of Wales, in their will after her death in a car accident in 1997.
Prince Harry at the funeral of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II of England in London on September 19, 2022 (James Manning/Pool Photo via AP)
The princes were left with other valuables belonging to their mother, including numerous dresses and her wedding gown of David and Elizabeth Emanuel, adorned with pearls and silk.
“My biggest concern was history repeating itself,” the duke said of why he and his wife decided to move to the United States.
In a similar interview, the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, was interviewed by Oprah in 1996 and commented on Diana’s struggles behind closed doors.
“When I was there, living there, I got to know more and more.
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“The pain I was in [Diana]. It’s very cruel and painful trying to find your inner feelings when you’re on such a public stage.
26 years ago, Princess Diana was interviewed by BBC journalist Martin Bashir. After her divorce from Charles in 1992, he asked her if she thought Camilla Parker Bowles was a factor in the failure of her marriage to Prince Charles, she replied, “Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was one.” bit full.”
On Sunday, Harry spoke about the struggles his mother must have faced on her own. “I can’t even imagine what it must have been like [mi madre] I went through that process on my own so many years ago,” she told Oprah.
Parallels have been drawn between the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales. Meghan, 39, admitted to Oprah that she felt suicidal at the palace and claimed her keys and passport were taken from her. “I didn’t know who to turn to. One of the people I contacted who was a friend and confidant was one of Diana’s closest friends. Who else could understand what it’s really like inside? said Megan.
Harry said he couldn’t watch Meghan suffer like her mother. “I’ve seen what happens when someone I love becomes a commodity to the point where they’re no longer treated or seen as a real person,” Harry said. “I lost my mother and now I see my wife falling victim to the same effective power.”
Meghan and Harry met through a mutual friend in 2016 and the couple married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in 2018.
You can contact the following organizations for support with your mental health in the UK: Mind, NHS, Samaritans. In the US, Mental Health America has helpful resources.