<p id=”par-1_48″>As a member of the British royal family, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/prince-harry/”>Prince Harry</a> filled his life with official duties to the crown, including attending public events, state visits, charity functions, and ceremonial occasions like Trooping the Colour. He dedicated himself to charitable causes, focusing on mental health, veterans, and young people.</p>
<p id=”par-2_36″>However, after stepping back from royal duties, Harry had to adjust to a new life. He left behind luxury palace living for more everyday moments like dog walks and dad duties, according to a royal author.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-bored-prince-harry-s-life-in-california-author”>‘Bored’ Prince Harry’s life in California: Author</h2>
<p id=”par-3_39″>Royal author Tom Quinn believes that Prince Harry feels “bored” living in California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. However, without adhering to a strict royal schedule, Harry reportedly lacks structure.</p>
<p id=”par-4_45″>Quinn, author of the book <em>Yes Ma’am</em>: <em>The Secret Lives of Royal Servents</em>, told <a href=”https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/33450591/prince-harry-bored-la-life/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Sun</a>, “[Harry] just doesn’t have anything to do. From childhood, he has been trained to be a royal, attending charitable events and meeting the public. He has thrown all that away.”</p>
<p id=”par-5_66″>Quinn contained, “Friends say he’s made a decent stab at helping around the Montecito mansion, walking the dog and looking after the children. But the truth is [Harry] is bored. He can’t leave the mansion without a security detail, and the couple’s neighbors – many of whom are far more famous than the royal couple – take little notice when they spot Harry out and about.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-harry-before-meghan-markle”>Harry before Meghan Markle</h2>
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<iframe title=”Prince Harry meets RFU fund-raisers” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/P-XkumCJrJM?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-6_39″>Prince Harry was born into <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-calls-out-royal-family-not-supporting-prince-harry-his-family.html/?swcfpc=1″>the royal family</a>, but his life was far from ordinary. As the younger son of King Charles III and Princess Diana, he grew up in the public eye, balancing royal duties with personal struggles.</p>
<p id=”par-7_30″>From an early age, people expected Prince Harry to uphold royal traditions. He attended elite schools, joined official engagements alongside his family, and accompanied his parents on international tours. </p>
<p id=”par-8_22″>However, tragedy also marked his childhood. He lost <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/valentines-day-tie-princess-diana-prince-harry-together.html/?swcfpc=1″>his mother, Princess Diana</a>, in 1997, a moment that shaped much of his future.</p>
<p id=”par-9_55″>Unlike many royals, Harry pursued an active military career, serving in the British Army for a decade. He completed two tours in Afghanistan and later focused on veterans’ causes, co-founding the Invictus Games in 2014. His charity work in mental health advocacy and conservation efforts in Africa set him apart from other royal family members.</p>
<p id=”par-10_27″>Harry represented the crown at state events, supported numerous charities, and undertook royal tours. But constant media scrutiny and struggles with royal expectations led to growing tensions.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-why-did-the-couple-step-back-from-royal-duties”>Why did the couple step back from royal duties?</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/meghan-markle-prince-harry-and-the-royal-family-in-2018.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”The royal family in 2018 includes Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, King Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton.” class=”wp-image-3783809″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>The royal family in 2018 includes Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, King Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton | Anwar Hussein/WireImage</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-11_37″>From the moment Meghan Markle officially joined the royal family in 2018, she faced relentless media scrutiny. The British press frequently published negative stories about her, leading to tensions with the royal family behind palace doors. </p>
<p id=”par-12_25″>Prince Harry was deeply affected by his mother Princess Diana’s <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/cringe-prince-harry-meghan-markle-fake-pda-staged-cameras-insiders.html/?swcfpc=1″>struggles with the press</a>. Therefore, Harry became determined to protect his wife and their children.</p>
<p id=”par-13_42″>Reports suggest that Meghan and Harry felt unsupported by the royal family in their battles with the media. In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed she experienced mental health struggles and also, made a claim of racism within the institution.</p>
<p id=”par-14_38″>Harry and Meghan shocked the world in January 2020 when they announced their decision to step back from royal duties. The move, dubbed “Megxit,” sparked controversy and speculation about what led to their departure from the royal family.</p>
<p id=”par-15_25″>While he no longer serves as a working royal, Prince Harry’s commitment to philanthropy continues through projects like the Archewell Foundation and mental health initiatives.</p>