LONDON – Prince Harry is finally revealing why he returned to Britain.
In an interview with GQ, the Duke of Sussex provided a string of reasons for his stunning move back to the U.K. in August along with wife Duchess Meghan and their two children. The pair stepped back from their royal roles in 2020 and spent six years in California amid an ongoing family rift.
The duke opened by citing "opportunities" as one of the top reasons. He then said that "being able to put the kids in a British school" was another. Harry said "it meant a lot" to him that his son Prince Archie, 7, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 5, could be educated in his home country and experience what it is like to grow up in Britain.
"They're loving it," he said, though he noted their
decision was not a criticism of American schools.
Harry also noted that being "back closer" to his family was among the other reasons for their return. He shared that being around friends in the U.K. who also have young children provides "endless playdates" for Archie and Lilibet.
The decision, he noted, was not "planned for a long time" and that the process of setting the wheels in motion was in fact "very short."
While Harry did not elaborate too much on his "opportunities" comment, it was reported over the summer that Meghan, who rose to fame playing Rachel Zane in TV drama "Suits," had been offered a role in "The Gentlemen," which is filmed in England. A new job for the duchess was among the dozens of reported reasons for the family's decision to return to Britain.
While the role in "The Gentlemen" did not materialize, the duchess is currently reading "a lot of scripts" as she weighs her next acting role, almost 10 years after announcing a career break.
Harry's interview was recorded last month in New York, though GQ shared the interview on Oct. 20, just as King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales were welcoming the Sultan of Oman on an historic state visit to Windsor.
Prince Harry says he is grieving the relationship with King Charles, Prince William
“Yes, of course," Harry replied when asked if he is mourning the complex relationship with his father, King Charles and older brother, Prince William.
"I think from a family perspective – again, another massively relatable issue for so many people – sibling disagreements, broken relationships between kids and their parents, kids and one parent," he said.
Harry believes "fascination" in his situation stems from others also trying to navigate fractured family dynamics.
"People maybe look at us and go, ‘How are you gonna work it out? Maybe that will help me work my stuff out,'” he said. “Some people don't want it to work out. I want it to work out," he said, though he did not clarify who he was talking about.
A spokesperson for the duke tells USA TODAY that Harry's comment "was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family. The comment was made in a general context and was not directed at his family in any way."
Harry continued, "With everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile," noting that "scars stick around forever."
"For me, there's enough drama in the world and enough drama in people's lives then to continue with issues with family,” he said.
The prince expressed hope for reconciliation with his family, including the king, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. When asked about fear of losing a second parent, Harry told GQ's Zach Baron that his father was "getting better."
Prince Harry on missing his mother, Princess Diana
Harry admitted that he often thinks of his mother,Princess Diana, who was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997 and that he feels her "energy at certain times." He also said he carried a lot of guilt as a child for rushing his final phone call with her, not knowing it would be the last time he spoke to his mother.
“I don't sit there – and I probably should – but I don't sit there and go really deep into how I’m feeling. It's just a quick, ‘Well, I miss you. I wonder what the world would be like if you were still here. I wonder what my family would be like if you were still here,’” he said.
The father-of-two said he did not need sympathy and cited a strong support network and "different forms of therapy" for helping him through difficult times. "Grief isn't just that moment. Someone years later might have a complete breakdown and that's when they need you the most."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prince Harry reveals real reasons for UK return
