Prince Harry Almost Gave Up Royal Life, Who Convinced Him To Stay?

He’s now one of the most talked about members of the royal family following his recent marriage and news that he and wife Meghan Markle are expecting their first child together in the coming months. However, it appears there was a time where Prince Harry may have seriously considered giving up everything and renouncing his title altogether in favor of a quieter life out of the spotlight.

In the 2018 CBS News documentary “Meghan Markle: An American Princess,” royal biographer Penny Junor revealed that it seemed likely for a time that Prince Harry wanted to give up his royal titles in favor of a different life, due to the struggles he had faced in his life following the death of his mother, Princess Diana.

“Harry was a reluctant royal,” she stated in the documentary. “And I think there was a real danger at one time that Harry might turn his back on his royal life and royal responsibilities and go and live somewhere quietly.”

Among the scandals that plagued the young royal were a costume party where he was dressed in a full Nazi costume, as well as nude photos that leaked from a trip to Las Vegas. However, no matter how much he was struggling with both his private issues about his mother’s death or his PR scandals, he eventually decided to stay royal. According to CBS This Morning commentator Gayle King, who narrated the documentary, his decision stemmed from his relationship with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

“In the end, he stayed a royal, reportedly for the Queen. And she, like the rest of us, forgave him,” King said.

However, while Prince Harry may not have renounced any titles, he and Markle have reportedly opted not to bestow any such monikers on their own child, which will be born in the Spring. Not long after the couple confirmed news they were expecting their first child together, it was reported that they wanted their child to lead a “relatively normal life” and would not seek any official titles.

Harry himself said as much in a 2017 interview with Newsweek, where he revealed that he wanted to maintain a normal life as much as possible and that he intended for any children he may have to also have one.

“But I am determined to have a relatively normal life, and if I am lucky enough to have children, they can have one too,” he said at the time.

However, if the pair does opt for titles, it is believed that if their child is a boy, he will be given the title of Earl of Dumbarton. If they welcome a daughter together, her title would be Lady Mountbatten-Windsor.