Prince Harry has opened up about his decision to quit the royal family in a new podcast and says he did it because of what it did to his mother Princess Diana.
The Duke of Sussex has said that growing up in the spotlight was extremely tough and that in his early 20s he would "grin and bear it" but ultimately he knew that it wasn't the path he wanted to take, writes The Mirror.
He told the podcast he would think things like: "I don't want to be here, I don't want to be doing this, look what it did to my mum. How am I ever going to settle down and have a wife and family when I know it's going to happen again. I've seen behind the curtain."
The 36-year-old also reflected on the time he got therapy for his mental health struggles and described that time as a "bubble was burst" and his head was "out of the sand".
Harry said he also found that "helping other people helped him", adding "healing other people heals me".
On the podcast with Armchair Expert, Harry said he now feels free in California and is able to take Archie out on the back of his bike.
The Duke spoke about how his life has changed since quitting as a senior member of the royal family and moving to America with Meghan and now two-year-old Archie.
Harry, 36, said in London he became used to making constant attempts to stay under the radar while out and about - often wearing baseball caps and walking with his head lowered.
In a bid to keep themselves out of the spotlight, Harry revealed he and Meghan even met in disguise at a supermarket for one of their dates.
He said they pretended not to know each other to try and stay 'incognito', adding: "I had a baseball cap on, looking down at the floor, trying to stay incognito. It's amazing how much chewing gum you see, it's a mess!"
But, Harry said his Californian life couldn't be more different and he is able to "lift his head".
He added: "Living here now I can lift my head. I feel different, my shoulders have dropped.
"You can walk around feeling a bit more free. I take Archie out on the back of my bike.".
The Prince recently said California has become his spiritual home where the anger of the past has gone, a journalist who once interviewed the duke has claimed.
Journalist, author and mental health advocate Bryony Gordon said that the Duke of Sussex now had a "sense of purpose" after his move to the US.
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