Prince Harry says he stepped back from royal duties because UK press was 'destroying' his mental health

Prince Harry has spoken out about his decision to step away from royal duties, saying he did so because the UK press was "destroying" his mental health (Photo: Jeremy Selwyn/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Prince Harry has spoken out about his decision to step away from royal duties, saying he did so because the UK press was "destroying" his mental health (Photo: Jeremy Selwyn/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Prince Harry has spoken out about his decision to step away from royal duties, saying he did so because the UK press was "destroying" his mental health (Photo: Jeremy Selwyn/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Prince Harry has spoken out about his decision to step away from royal duties, saying he did so because the UK press was "destroying" his mental health.

In a candid interview with James Corden on the British talk show host’s The Late Late Show, the pair toured Los Angeles on an open tour bus while the royal opened up about his decision to move to the United States.

‘We never walked away’

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Prince Harry told Corden that he “did not walk away" from the Royal Family, but that he had to leave due to the British press affecting his mental health.

He said it was a "really difficult environment, as I think 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'."

"So I did what any husband and father would do - I need to get my family out of here,” he added.

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However, Prince Harry said “we never walked away - and as far as I'm concerned, what decisions are made on that side - I will never walk away.

"I will always be contributing - my life is public service - so wherever I am in the world it is going to be the same thing.”

The royal also addressed his feelings regarding Netflix’s hit TV show, The Crown, where he said that although “it’s loosely based on the truth,” the show doesn’t “pretend to be news - it's fictional.”

“Of course it's not strictly accurate, but it gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle - the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else - what can come from that,” he added.

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"I'm way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife or myself.

"Because it's the difference between fiction - take it how you will - but this [news reports] is being reported on as fact because you're supposedly news. I have a real issue with that."