Prince Harry has revealed he is ‘loving’ his ‘fantastic’ new life in the US and said he wants to teach Archie how to play rugby in the garden of his $14 million mansion.
The Duke of Sussex, 35, joined a virtual call alongside staff and volunteers from the Rugby Football League from his $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara where he is currently living with Meghan Markle, 39, and son Archie, one.
In a clip released today from a video call with the organisation to celebrate their 125th birthday, the royal was asked by Ellery Hanley MBE if he is enjoying life in the US, to which he said: ‘Oh easy question. I am loving it. It’s fantastic.’
Meanwhile Prince Harry joked it is ‘impossible’ to get hold of any rugby balls in the states, saying: ‘What I need is a few mini rugby balls that I can get Archie involved with the game…I’ve got a little bit of space outside which we’re fortunate enough to have,’
The Duke of Sussex , 35, joined a virtual call from his $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara where he is currently living with Meghan Markle , 39, and son Archie, one
He said: ‘I need to get him playing some rugby league, but I am unbelievably fortunate and grateful to have outdoor space and see my son outside as I know so many people haven’t had that chance in the last five months.
‘Our little man is our number one priority and then our work is our second priority to play our part to make the world a better place,’ he added.
Harry also added that he was ‘constantly aware of’ people who are ‘stuck in high rise blocks of flats and can’t even see outside space’ adding that ‘these last five months play a huge part in the next five-ten years as far as mental health is concerned’.
The video was released to mark Rugby League’s 125th birthday.
The royal joked it was ‘impossible’ to get hold of any rugby balls in the states, as he added he was ‘unbelievably fortunate’ to have space outside to see his son play. Harry, Meghan and Archie are pictured in South Africa last year
‘All of use take so much for granted and so many people have said Covid is a virus and it doesn’t discriminate between classes and it’s like, no, I’ve spoken to people and I know a lot of people who are stuck in high rise flats and they can’t even see outdoors, they can’t even see a bit of grass,’ he continued.
‘I am constantly aware of that, though it’s not my environment, that’s one thing we need to be constantly aware of for the next 10, 15 years as far as mental health is concerned.
‘This is why again I think that the rugby league community and any community who have spent time together need to know what they’re looking out for.’
He continued: ‘You may be fine, you may have a garden, you may have a space, you may be feeling wow this is really hard, but take that moment and go “wow, if it’s hard for me, how must it be for other people as well”
The Duke is currently living in his $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara with Meghan Markle, 39, and their son Archie, one
The Duke of Sussex praised the sport during the phone call and said he ‘would have been back already had it not been for Covid’
‘We’ve got a whole Rugby League world cup coming next year. I definitely plan on coming back. I would have been back already had it not been for Covid.’
Ellery Hanley, who was questioning the Duke, is former Rugby League player and the first Black head coach of a major UK sports team.
In a video clip released yesterday of the conversation, the Duke expressed his admiration for the way Rugby League people have come together in this period ‘as a family’ and how the sport has thrived over 125 years.
He also commented on his particular admiration for the speed and bravery of the players and the contribution the sport makes to its communities.
He said: ‘Watching Rugby League is exhausting. Listen I spent 10 years in the army, I know what endurance is all about. But it’s madness.