Prince Harry has ‘suffered a lot’ and is ‘just trying to protect Meghan Markle and Archie’, says close pal
PRINCE Harry has "suffered a lot" and just wants to protect Meghan Markle and their son, a close friend of the royal revealed today.
Argentinian polo-player Nacho Figueras - who was one of the first to meet baby Archie - said the 35-year-old royal had decided to step down for the sake of his young family.
Speaking to Good Morning America, Nacho said: "He has suffered a lot for all the things that have happened to him.
"He wants to live a normal life, as normal as his life is going to be. When you have 1,000 paparazzi outside your house in Canada waiting to get one picture of your son, that's not normal.
"He's protecting his family, he's protecting his wife and his child.
"He was the son of someone who suffered attacks from the press and it's undeniable. He doesn't want for that to happen for his family."
Prince Harry is now in Canada after he and Meghan Markle announced they were stepping down as royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will now work to become financially independent - even paying back the £2.4m of taxpayer money spent on refurbishing Frogmore Cottage.
And while they said they will continue to support the Queen, they will no longer formally represent Her Majesty.
Prince Harry last week revealed his "great sadness" at leaving the Royal Family but claimed he had "no other option".
In a speech before leaving for his new home in North America, the royal told a Sentenable crowd: "It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option."
The Duke claimed he wasn't walking away from the Royal Family but it "wasn't possible" to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth and the Military without public funding.
NEW HOME
The royal had sat down with his grandmother the Queen to thrash out Megxit details, with Her Majesty supporting the couple in their decision.
Prince Harry was later pictured arriving in Canada, joining Meghan and Archie at their new home.
Meghan has been spotted hiking with baby Archie near their £11million Canadian bolthole.
Meanwhile, Kate Middleton has been busy conducting four royal engagements in seven days.
The Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly expecting to become more involved in engagements after her in-laws quit.
And despite speculation of a rift, it has been revealed Prince William and Prince Harry made amends before Harry moved to Canada.