LONDON (AP) – Prince Harry, who last year moved from England to Southern California, performed the theme song in the 1990s comedy “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” during an appearance on an evening talk show where he said no. t move away from his royal duties.
During a segment on CBS television show “The Late, Late Show with James Corden” that aired early Friday, Harry said he decided to step down from his job as a front-line member of the royal family. to protect his wife and son. and their mental health.
“It was going backwards instead of downsides,” he told Corden. “It was a really difficult environment, which I think a lot of people saw, so I did what any parent would do and I thought,‘ How can I get my family out of here? “But we have never moved away and, as for me, whatever decisions are made on this side, I will never leave.”
The appearance was Harry’s first interview since his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, stripped the prince and his wife, ex-wife Meghan Markle, of their royal duties earlier this month. Corden’s coup overtook Oprah Winfrey, whose interview is scheduled to air on March 7.
The queen announced her decision on February 19, saying it was not possible for the couple to “continue with the responsibilities and duties that public service life entails” after they retire from the royal family’s job. Harry and Meghan responded by saying that “service is universal” and emphasized their commitment to the UK, a response some considered disrespectful to the Queen.
Whatever the issue that divided the royal family, Harry suggested that he and Meghan keep in touch with the monarch and her husband, Prince Philip. Harry told Corden that the monarch had given Harry and Meghan’s son Archie, a waffle maker for Christmas, and that members of the royal family had seen the boy “running” to California via Zoom.
The prince also offered an insight into the couple’s life in the rich enclave of Santa Barbara County, in Montecito, where they usually watch the “Jeopardy” game show and Netflix programs before bed. Archie’s first word was “crocodile,” Harry said.
During the merry segment, which did not touch the royal couple’s business dealings, Corden and the prince toured Southern California in an open bus. At one point, they arrived outside the mansion where the opening sequence of Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince” was filmed.
“If it was good enough for the cool prince, it’s good enough for a royal prince,” Corden says, walking up the path. “Remember the song?”
“Now that’s the story, all about how, my life turned upside down, it turned upside down, now it takes a minute,” Harry raps before turning to Corden for help.
“And sit right there, I’ll tell you how I became the prince of the city called …,” cries Corden.
“Bel-Air,” Harry’s song ends.
Corden jokingly tried to convince Harry to buy the mansion, making a video call to Meghan to seek his support. She refused.
“I think we’ve made enough movement,” he said.
Meghan then asked “Haz” how her tour of Los Angeles was going, prompting Corden to ask Harry about the nickname.
“I didn’t know we were calling you Haz now,” Corden said.
“You’re not my wife,” Harry replied, shrugging as the two men laughed.