Prince Harry snubs the UK and says ‘the States feels like home for me now’ in NBC interview

Prince Harry set social media alight today when he claimed the US was now his home, and that he predicted it would ‘become a thing’.

The Duke of Sussex made the revelation in his latest interview on American television, in which he also refused to say whether he misses his father Prince Charles and brother Prince William.

Harry told NBC’s Today: ‘Home for me now, for the time being, is in the States. And it feels that way as well. We’ve been welcomed with open arms and we’ve got such a great community up in Santa Barbara.’ 

Asked if it was ‘weird’ to say publicly, having spent more than 30 years growing up in the UK, he replied: ‘No, but I’m sure it’ll become a thing.’

The snub towards Britain sparked a backlash on Twitter, particularly as it came just weeks after his lawyers told judges in the High Court in February the UK would ‘always be his home’ amid his ongoing security row. 

One user wrote: ‘He informed the court 6 weeks ago that England will always be home. I’m sure the court & [Home Office] will be very interested in this interview.

Another said: ‘In my opinion such a hit in the face for the British public. With saying my home is California, I wouldn’t even think about going on that balcony.’

At a hearing in February regarding police security for Harry when he visits from across the Atlantic, his barrister Shaheed Fatima QC insisted his ties to the UK remained strong.

‘It goes without saying that he does want to come back to see family and friends and to continue to support the charities that are so close to his heart,’ said Ms Fatima.

‘Most of all, this is and always will be his home.’

The main bombshell of the interview was Harry refusing to say whether he misses Charles and William amid speculation about their ongoing feud – but he insisted that he talks with the Queen ‘about things she can’t talk about with anybody else’.

The duke spoke about his mantra of ‘trying to make the world a better place for my kids’ while also explaining his concerns that he could face ‘burnout’ while working from home at his £11million mansion in Montecito, California.

In addition, he praised the Queen’s ‘sense of humour’ and spoke of their ‘really special relationship’ following their surprise meeting at Windsor Castle last Thursday where he had tea with her and his wife Meghan Markle.

And, talking about his late mother Princess Diana, Harry told NBC’s Today that he feels her ‘presence in almost everything that I do now’ and that he talks to his son Archie about her and there are photos of her in their home.

Asked what is the best thing about the Queen, he said: ‘Her sense of humour and her ability to see the humour in so many different things. We have a really special relationship. We talk about things that she can’t talk about with anybody else, so that is always a nice peace to her. But I think… after a certain age you get bored of birthdays.’

And asked about the Jubilee celebrations, he said: ‘I don’t know yet. There’s lots of things with security issues and everything else. This is what I’m trying to do, trying to make it possible that I can get my kids to meet her.’

But when questioned over whether he misses Charles and William, the Duke was keen to swerve the subject, telling presenter Hoda Kotb: ‘For me at the moment, I’m here focused on these guys [Invictus athletes] and these families and giving everything that I can, 120 per cent to them to make sure they have the experience of a lifetime. That’s my focus here. And when I leave here, I get back and my focus is on my family who I miss massively.’