LONDON 鈥� Prince Harry, who decamped from England to Southern California last year, rapped the theme song to the 1990s sitcom 鈥淭he Fresh Prince of Bel-Air鈥� during a late-night talk show appearance in which he said he didn鈥檛 walk away from his royal duties.
During a segment on the CBS television network鈥檚 鈥淭he Late, Late Show with James Corden鈥� that aired early Friday, Harry said he decided to step away from his work as a front-line member of the royal family to protect his wife and son 鈥� and his mental health.
鈥淚t was stepping back rather than stepping down,鈥� he told Corden. 鈥淚t was a really difficult environment, which I think a lot of people saw, so I did what any father or husband would do and thought, 鈥楬ow do I get my family out of here?鈥� But we never walked away, and as far as I鈥檓 concerned, whatever decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away.鈥�
The appearance marked Harry鈥檚 first interview since his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, stripped the prince and his wife, the former actress Meghan Markle, of their remaining royal duties earlier this month. Corden鈥檚 coup trumped Oprah Winfrey, whose interview with the couple is scheduled to air March 7.
The Queen announced her decision on Feb. 19, saying it wasn't possible for the couple to 鈥渃ontinue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service" after they stepped away from the work of the Royal Family. Harry and Meghan replied by saying 鈥渟ervice is universal" and underscoring their commitment to the U.K., a response seen by some as disrespectful to the queen.
Whatever issues have divided the royals, Harry suggested he and Meghan remain in touch with the monarch and her husband, Prince Philip. Harry told Corden that the monarch gave Harry and Meghan鈥檚 son, Archie, a waffle-maker for Christmas and that the senior royals had seen the toddler 鈥渞unning around鈥� in California via Zoom.
The prince also offered a glimpse of the couple's life in the wealthy Santa Barbara County enclave of Montecito, where they generally watch the game show 鈥淛eopardy" and Netflix programs before going to bed. Archie鈥檚 first word was 鈥渃rocodile,鈥� Harry said.
During the lighthearted segment, which didn't touch on the royal couple's commercial ventures, Corden and the prince tour Southern California on an open top bus. At one point they arrived outside the mansion where the opening sequence of Will Smith鈥檚 鈥淔resh Prince鈥� was filmed.
鈥淚f it was good enough for the Fresh Prince, it鈥檚 good enough for a real prince,鈥� Corden says, walking up the drive. 鈥淒o you remember the song?鈥�
鈥淣ow this is the story, all about how, my life got flipped, turned upside down, now take a minute,鈥� Harry raps before turning to Corden for help.
鈥淎nd sit right there, I鈥檒l tell you how I became the prince of town called鈥�,鈥� Corden chimes in.
鈥淏el-Air,鈥� Harry finishes off the song.
Corden then jokingly tried to convince Harry to buy the sprawling mansion, placing a video call to Meghan to seek her support. She demurred.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e done enough moving,鈥� she said.
Meghan then asked 鈥淗az鈥� how his tour of Los Angeles was going, prompting Corden to ask Harry about the nickname.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know we were calling you Haz now,? Corden said.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e not my wife,? Harry responded with a shrug, as both men chuckled.
Danica Kirka, The Associated Press
