PRINCE HARRY has admitted he was 'trapped' in the institution of the royal family-- and is concerned that his brother William remains trapped.
In a highly anticipated interview with chat show host Oprah which aired in the US last night, the former senior royal admitted he would never have stepped back from royal life if he had not Meghan Markle.
This, he says, is because he was 'trapped' within the institution-- but never realised until he met his wife.
When questioned by chat show queen Oprah as to how he was 'trapped', having been born into the institution and knowing nothing but the life of riches and privilege he enjoyed, he replied "I didn't see a way out".
"I was trapped but I didn't know I was trapped. Trapped within the system like the rest of the family.
"My father and my brother are trapped," he said, referring to the two future kings of England. "They don't get to leave and I have huge compassion for that."
Prince Harry, Prince WIlliam, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton at Buckingham Palace in 2018 (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)Pressed again on how he had always 'looked happy', the 36-year-old asked "because there were photographs of me smiling while I was shaking hands and meeting people?"
The couple had previously described how how things look on the outside and what is happening inside the royal family can sometimes be completely different-- such as how Meghan Markle appeared at an event in the Royal Albert Hall while she was battling serious suicidal thoughts.
While she was smiling and seemed happy at the event, she explained how she had attended because "I can't be left alone-- I'm afraid of what I'll do", and had cried each time the lights went down during the show.
Prince Harry also opened up about his strained relationship with his father, Prince Charles, who he revealed had stopped taking his phonecalls when the couple first admitted they were considering stepping back from royal life.
"There is a lot to work through there," he admitted to Oprah, adding that he feels "really let down" by his father.
"I will always love him, but there is a lot of hurt that's happened," he said.
Image: CBSAs for his brother Prince William, amid reports in the media that their relationship had been extremely damaged by Harry and Meghan's decision to step back, Harry said "I love William to bits.
"He's my brother. We've been through hell together."
He admitted however that they are "on different paths"-- and that he would describe their relationship as "space".
"Time heals all things, hopefully."
The groundbreaking interview will be aired across Ireland tonight on RTÉ 2 at 9.30pm.
