Prince Harry has spoken of his ‘great sadness that it has come to this’ as he breaks his silence over Megxit and has defended his wife and repeated his respect for the Queen.
The Duke of Sussex was at a formal private dinner for vulnerable children’s charity Sentebale, which he founded in 2006, when he made the comments.
He said: ‘Good evening everyone and thank you very much for being her for Sentebale charity that myself and Prince Seeiso created all the way back in 2006 to honour our mothers legacy in supporting those affected by HIV and AIDS.
Before I begin I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard or perhaps read over the past few weeks so I want you to hear the truth from me as much as I can share not as a prince or a duke but as Harry. The same person that many of you have heard grow up for the last 35 years but now with a clearer perspective.
The Duke of Sussex was wearing a grey blazer, black trousers and blue suede shoes as he attended a charity event at The Ivy Chelsea Garden on the King’s Road.
He was joined by his son’s godfather Mark Dyer – who donned a blue suit – and a group of minders.
Prince Harry has been spotted for the first time since his Megxit deal was revealed as he headed to an upmarket restaurant in London
The Duke of Sussex was wearing a grey blazer, black trousers and blue suede shoes as he attended a charity event at The Ivy Chelsea Garden on the King’s Road
He was joined by his son’s godfather Mark Dyer (pictured) – who donned a blue suit – and a group of minders
The 35-year-old was at a formal private dinner for vulnerable children’s charity Sentebale, which he founded in 2006, that was expected to finish at 10.30pm.
The Ivy Chelsea Garden, which has main meals costing up to £32.95, is a stones throw away from Mr Dyer’s pub in Fulham, where Harry dined with friends on Friday.
Mr Dyer, 53, who comforted Harry after Diana’s death in 1997, was revealed as baby Archie’s godfather earlier today alongside the Duke’s former nanny Tiggy Pettifer.
The 35-year-old was at a formal private dinner for vulnerable children’s charity Sentebale, which he founded in 2006, that was expected to finish at 10.30pm
The Ivy Chelsea Garden, which has main meals costing up to £32.95, is a stones throw away from Mr Dyer’s pub in Fulham, where Harry dined with friends on Friday. Pictured: Harry outside The Ivy Chelsea Garden tonight
A general view shows The Ivy Chelsea Garden, with doormen in their green outfits standing outside
The Queen last night announced Harry and Meghan will step down from Royal duties in the Spring, as they look to forge a new life in Canada.
The couple will be known as Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their new independent lives away from royal duties.
Last night’s announcement said they will ‘not use their HRH titles’, which appeared to suggest sacrificing the three-letter prefix was the price of their newfound freedom.
But the Palace and Sussex households have been accused of fudging the statement after it transpired Harry and Meghan have not been stripped of the title, but have just agreed not to deploy it.
The historic deal, which was hammered out at Sandringham yesterday, also gives the couple licence to broker lucrative commercial deals.
It has prompted concern they could row back on their pledge not to use the titles if doing so could bolster their brand and net them millions.
The couple (pictured in London last week), who will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer to use their HRH titles and will repay £2.4million of taxpayer’s money spent on renovating their Berkshire home, the couple have announced, as talks about their future roles concluded. Pictured is the Queen’s statement
And a statement from Buckingham Palace (pictured) read: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives’
The Duke and Duchess’ new website sussexroyal.com has been updated following the Queen’s statement, saying: ‘In line with the statement by Her Majesty The Queen, information on the roles and work of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be updated on this website in due course’
Commentator Carole Malone angrily tweeted: ‘So Harry and Meghan haven’t actually been stripped of their HRH title.
‘They will keep HRH in name but will not use it. So how is that going to be monitored as they jet around the world making millions?’
Minutes after the Queen’s announcement, a communiqué on the Sussexes website referred to the couple as ‘Their Royal Highness’, immediately sparking confusion.
But it is understood they will abandon using the title this spring when Harry and Meghan officially cut ties with the Family.
On Friday Harry dined for around three hours at Mr Dyer’s Brook House Pub in Fulham ahead of the bombshell announcement.
He wore a grey polo shirt to the New King’s Road venue and was said to have been acting like a ‘normal’ customer before leaving at around 11pm.
He wore a grey polo shirt to the New King’s Road venue (pictured) and was said to have been acting like a normal customer in the Fulham pub on Friday
The west London pub where Prince Harry was spotted enjoying ‘a quiet drink like a normal customer’ on Friday is owned by Mark Dyer (left, with Harry in 2016)
A witness told Fabulous: ‘He seemed very happy, relaxed.
‘He was sat in the middle of seven guys and they spent a good few hours laughing and joking.
‘He seems like he was just a normal guy enjoying a few beers and a meal with his pals.’
The eatery, which sits over the road from Eel Brook Common, offers main meals of up to £25 – for the roast Cornish cod.
Harry has previously been seen out drinking down the road in The Cross Keys in Chelsea, as well as Bunga Bunga just over the Thames in Battersea.