Prince Harry broke his silence on Sunday after the royal family announced he and his wife Meghan Markle will step back from royal duties and stop using their HRH titles. In his first public speech since the couple announced their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family, Harry said “there really was no other option.” He said that the couple had hoped to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth and his military associations without public funding, but it wasn’t possible. “I was born into this life, and it is a great honor to serve my country and the Queen,” he said. “When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing. You’ve looked out for me for so long, but the media is a powerful force, and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us.” He said that the couple will “continue to lead a life of service,” adding that he will “always have the utmost respect” for the Queen, whom his referred to as his “commander-in-chief.”

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