Since he announced his intention to step away from the British royal family with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry has been optimistic about the entire endeavor. He’s spoken openly about his desire to live a more peaceful life, away from the constant barge of press and media. He has also emphasized that he has no desire for his son, Archie Harrison, to grow up in the spotlight.
Things seemed to be going well for the Sussexes. Shortly after announcing Megxit, they moved to Vancouver Island where they were staying prior to returning to the U.K. to complete the final royal duties. However, the media soon learned that Canada was not going to be the Sussexes’ permanent North American residence.
Instead, the couple has moved to Los Angeles, California to be closer to their powerhouse Hollywood team. However, amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and being so far from home, Prince Harry is facing several challenges.
Prince Harry was optimistic about living a “normal” life
When they returned to the U.K. to carry out their final duties as members of the British royal family, the Sussexes looked absolutely delighted by their decision. However, royal experts were concerned then that they were in over their heads.
“Of course they are besotted with each other,” royal expert Camilla Tominey told ITV News. “But that’s not to say the love they have for each other and their child and their dream life in North America that they’re not going to face challenges. And that it’s not going to be difficult particularly for Prince Harry to leave everything that he’s known. This is an institution he was born into, he knows nothing else.”
Still, Prince Harry seemed assured that things would go smoothly. “You forget, I was in the military for 10 years so I’m more normal than my family would like to believe,” he said during a leaked phone call. “But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do. And seeing as everyone under the age of 35 or 36 seems to be carrying out an activist’s role, gives us the opportunity to try and make more of a difference without being criticized. Oh no, I think it’s much better.”
Prince Harry is finding life outside of the royal family challenging
Unfortunately, being so far from home and stuck inside in a foreign land has not made things easy for the prince. “I don’t know how his career is going to map out, but yes, I’ve been in touch, though I think he’s finding life a bit challenging just now,” Prince Harry’s close from Jane Goodall told the Radio Times, according to The Guardian.
Thankfully, he has been in touch with and on good terms with his family. “Harry has been staying in touch with his father and loves his grandmother,” an insider told Entertainment Tonight. “Harry misses his family.”
Prince Harry is struggling with several things now that he lives in LA
Being away from his family is going to be one of the prince’s main struggles now that he’s on the opposite side of the world, and he is unable to travel due to the pandemic. “With the royals in isolation, there isn’t much they can do, although I suspect Harry will probably be feeling far from home right now,” royal expert Katie Nicholl said. “They won’t want to take any risks by traveling, and their priority is to keep Archie settled and in a routine. I think they will come to the U.K. when it is safer to do so.”
Additionally, while Meghan has experience in Hollywood, it will be a whole new world for the prince. Though the pair had hoped to launch their new Archewell Foundation that will surely keep them both busy, it is currently put on hold due to the virus.
Some of the prince’s favorite pastimes will also be left behind. Though Prince Harry and Prince William are environmentalists, they enjoy the royal pastime of shooting and hunting, “But I think Harry will stop because Meghan doesn’t like hunting.,” Dr. Goodall explained.
Change is always challenging. Hopefully, Prince Harry will find his stride in LA soon.
