Prince Harry may not have gotten stellar grades in high school — something his critics will not let him forget — but he's certainly smart. Smart enough to understand that life as a working royal was not for him. And so he and wife Meghan Markle moved on to a new life, which we think has actually been great for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and for Harry especially.
When he and Meghan first announced their intention to step back from royal life, some of Harry's critics were openly expecting and, in some cases, probably hoping he would fail. But to think that a supposedly pampered prince couldn't adjust to life outside palace walls was underestimating Harry's will, his brains, his desire, and his vision as a father and a husband. In short, they're underestimating the man who fought in Afghanistan, founded three nonprofits, and has broken with royal tradition time and again in his quest to live an authentic life.
We applaud Harry and wish him well on his continued journey as a private citizen, and we hope that this list of 20 ways that his life has improved since leaving working royal life is only the beginning.
He's in Therapy
It's no secret that Harry was traumatized by the death of his mother, Princess Diana. He's spoken a lot about how it derailed him and plunged his life into disarray, and how he's still affected to this day — including being triggered by the media's treatment of his wife and child. When Harry spoke at a J.P. Morgan event in Miami in April, he reportedly talked about how he's focusing on therapy to deal with the trauma. How great that he has the opportunity to do that now.
More Relaxed
Look at pictures from Harry and Meghan's last royal tour in South Africa and chances are, he's frowning — and it's no wonder. The couple was in the middle of trying to negotiate a different role for themselves within the royal family while juggling being new parents amid tabloid media drama. Fast forward to March 2020, two months after announcing their exit, and Harry seemed way more relaxed and laid-back at a meeting with young leaders of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust. That pressure had to have been a lot.
More Hands-On
Royal life comes with perks. (Hello, Frogmore Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle!) But it can also come with lots of work and travel at a time when a person might actually rather be at home doing fun stuff with their family — like this cute video of Meghan and Archie reading a book for charity, which Harry filmed. Now Harry never has to be anywhere he doesn't want to be.
Earning His Own Money
Like we said, royal life has its pluses, but also its challenges — like not being able able to control what charities one can be associated with, and depending on public money as well as that of granny and dad. Now, Harry and Meghan have signed with an agency for speaking engagements and have things in the works with Netflix. They're achieving that financial independence they clearly longed for as working royals.
Looking Snackier
Don't know if y'all were too busy listening to Harry's words in this video about the Invictus Games being postponed (blah, blah, blah), but we were too busy looking at Harry himself — and liking what we saw. We've always had a soft spot for the royal ginger, but Harry is looking even snackier these days. Maybe it was the lighting, but his skin looks clear, his eyes are an incredible slate blue, and even his hair was a slightly different tone. California life is clearly agreeing with him!
Stepping Into His Power
When Harry and Meghan sent a thank-you letter to a sports organization they work with, royal watchers noticed that the letterhead was of the couple's combined royal logo, an intertwined "H" and "M" topped with a coronet. Sure, he may no longer be performing royal duties, but the thing is, Harry is the son of the heir apparent, which makes him completely entitled to use his full logo. We're glad that Harry is moving forward with his life while standing firm on who he is.
Speaking Up
Harry has been a royal patron of the Rugby Football Union since 2016, and that did not change after stepping down as a working royal. But we doubt he could have made a statement on the use during rugby games of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" — an African American spiritual song written by a slave about the hardships of slavery — if he were still carrying out duties for the Queen. But now, outside those confines, he released a statement supporting an upcoming review of the use of the song.
He's Leaning Into His Causes
Harry recently combined his two veteran-related nonprofits — Endeavour Fund and the Invictus Games — into one to give them more attention and focus. Even through lockdown, Harry tried to encourage veterans in several videos. He also continued his conservation work with the nonprofit African Parks, as well as other causes.
Looking Out for Archie's Future in a Big Way
In a new letter written for the conservation nonprofit African Parks, Harry wrote about the heightened sense of responsibility for the well-being of the environment that he feels since becoming a father and the onset of the worldwide health crisis.
"I feel the pressure is even greater to ensure we can give our children the future they deserve, a future that hasn't been taken from them, and a future full of possibility and opportunity," he wrote. "I want us all to be able to tell our children that yes, we saw this coming, and with the determination and help from an extraordinary group of committed individuals, we did what was needed to restore these essential ecosystems."
Sometimes it feels like working royals have to keep things a bit less controversial, so perhaps he couldn't have written such a passionate letter about Archie's future back then.
In the Trenches
It's one thing to visit a nonprofit as a royal — or celebrate workers who dedicate themselves to bettering the lives of others. (Those are both great things.) But away from the royal family, Harry has been able to dig into issues and help out in a direct and inspiring manner. He and Meghan have distributed meals to the homebound and made food at Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit that helps feed the less fortunate.
Reconnecting With William
William and Harry's relationship has been strained for a while now. But according to reports, they started speaking again when Prince Charles became ill and continued to keep up via Zoom. They also recently reconnected in person at Prince Philip's funeral and the memorial for their mother. We're so glad these two may be on the way to repairing their bond. Perhaps a bit of time and space is what they needed.
Leaning on His Friends
So Dame Jane Goodall kinda spilled the beans on how her friend Harry was doing immediately post-exit. She told Radio Times that he was "finding life a bit challenging right now" dealing with the monarchy and all that.
"I know that Harry really felt constrained, and he desperately wants little Archie to grow up away from all the pomp and circumstance," Jane noted. Clearly, Harry has been chatting with his friends about his current life, probably bouncing ideas off them and just venting.
That's healthy.
Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle
Speaking of healthy, when he started dating Meghan, Harry began giving up some of his unhealthy habits, including smoking, but the new lifestyle reportedly kicked into high gear when the couple left the UK. Harry began joining in on long hikes and walks, as well as cooking at home.
Keeping Things Simple
Having a healthier lifestyle often means paring down the existing one for the benefit of mental health and clarity. Harry no longer lives in a historic home down the road from an art-encrusted palace, but in exchange, he no longer has a life full of flashbulbs and events that he may or may not have wanted to attend. Things are just simple now, and he's gotta be loving that.
More Casual
Harry looks great in a suit and tie, but let's face it, no one wants to wear a suit everywhere they go — and as a royal, that pretty much was what he had to do, with some exceptions. Harry's new life is different, so his wardrobe is different. We're seeing him in sweaters and jeans, workout pants and T-shirts, all kinds of casual stuff.
Yes, we expect to see Harry in suits again, but his new wardrobe is more Brad Pitt than Prince William — and that suits his personality.
Talking About Politics
The royals never involve themselves in politics, so Harry hasn't actually ever voted. But after stepping down as a working royal, he was able to discuss the topic of voting in a PSA video with Meghan. Commenting on another country's election would be even more taboo for a royal, so Harry really broke some barriers in this clip.
Work on What He's Passionate About
Speaking of politics, Harry is teaming up with US first lady Jill Biden to honor athletes from the now-canceled Warrior Games. It's like a US Army version of the Invictus Games that Harry founded when he was still a working royal. So while he may not be an official patron of some of his old projects, he can still work for causes close to his heart — and even do so in the US!
Opening Up About Tough Subjects
Typically, the royal family operates under a "don't complain, never explain" rule. They don't reveal their personal struggles or try to deny media rumors, for example. They just keep their heads down and work. But that wasn't working for Harry, and now he's able to actually talk about his life and how he feels about being a prince. His interview with Oprah Winfrey was shockingly honest, which was refreshing to see.
Giving Archie the Childhood He Didn't Have
One of the things Harry spoke to Oprah about was how happy he was to be doing normal father-son stuff with Archie now that the pressures of royal life were removed. "The highlight for me is sticking [Archie] on the back of a bicycle in his little baby seat and taking him on bike rides, which is something I was never able to do when I was young," Harry said.
Keeping His Private Life Private
It was clear to everyone that Harry hated the requirements put on him when he and Meghan welcomed Archie into the world. They didn't want to do a post-birth photocall, and they barely released any information or pictures beyond what's "required" of a royal. Now with their daughter, they don't owe anyone anything — Harry can keep Lilibet's life as private as he wants.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
