Prince Harry Says He Doesn't "Want to Be a Single Dad" Like Charles Was

Heartbreaking.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and little Archie
(Image credit: Pool/Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Trigger warning: This article discusses suicide.

During a new interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Prince Harry explained that he brought his family to America because he didn't want to be a "single dad" like his own father King Charles was after the death of Princess Diana.

Harry's wife Meghan Markle previously admitted to feeling suicidal during her time as a senior royal, and leaving the U.K. ended up being the only solution the Duke and Duchess of Sussex found to protect their mental health and the safety of their son Archie. (Their daughter Lilibet was born while they were already living in California.)

"I never want to be in that position, part of the reason why we are here now," Harry told Bradby (via CNN).

"I never, ever want to be in that position. I don’t want history to repeat itself. I do not want to be a single dad. And I certainly don’t want my children to have a life without a mother or a father."

Harry lost his mother Diana when he was just 12 years old.

Elsewhere in the interview, he said about Charles, "Single parenthood, [he] was never made for that."

Still, the Duke of Sussex expressed a significant amount of empathy towards his father, who he believes did his best in parenting his brother William and himself, though he often didn't get it right.

The duke also said that he's tried everything to reconcile with his father and brother, but that they haven't shown the same willingness. Regardless, he still believes that bridges could be built between them, and he would love to have his family back, as he put it.

Prince Harry has given four TV interviews to help promote his memoir, Spare, which comes out on Jan. 10, and is expected to contain many shocking revelations.

Iris Goldsztajn
Morning Editor

Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.

Read more
A headshot of Prince William looking serious
What Prince William's "Very Sad" Childhood Plea Reveals About His Parenting Style
Princess Diana wearing a blue dress posing with baby Prince Harry and toddler Prince William sitting a piano covered with framed family photos
Prince Harry and Prince William Share This Parenting Conundrum as They Honor Princess Diana
King Charles walked Meghan Markle down the aisle at her royal wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.
Meghan Markle’s Dad Said He’s \201cIncredibly Grateful\201d to King Charles for Walking Meghan Down the Aisle at Her Wedding
A 1980s photo of Princess Diana wearing a long green skirt and white sweater giving Prince William a piggyback in grass next to Prince Charles, who is wearing khakis and a blue shirt holding Prince Harry
Prince William Made a Heartbreaking Admission About His Childhood to Princess Kate After She Explained a Very Normal Activity
Princess Diana rides a sled with Prince William and Prince Harry
Princess Diana Wanted Prince Harry and Prince William to Grow Up Experiencing "Life Beyond the Palace Walls"
Kate Middleton wears a teal dress and has long brunette hair and bangs, Prince William wears a tuxedo
Kate Middleton and Prince William "Worried" About Raising Kids in the Royal Family, Says Former Aide
Latest in Celebrity
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre in Maseru, Lesotho in October 2024
Why Prince Harry Is So "Torn Apart" Over Resigning From His Charity
Taylor Swift singing in a giant martini glass in the Bejeweled music video
How Working With Taylor Swift Was Different Than Dita Von Teese Expected
Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries, and Kris Jenner posing with a car-shaped birthday cake at Marquee Nightclub in Las Vegas in October 2011
Kris Jenner Is Still Making Fun of Kim Kardashian for Her 72-Day Marriage
Jonathan Davino in a blue shirt and gray blazer and Sydney Sweeney in a black and white patterned dress at the InStyle and Kate Spade dinner in October 2018
Sydney Sweeney Deletes Instagram of Fiancé Jonathan Davino, Further Fueling Breakup Rumors
Meghan Markle in a beige shirt on stage at SXSW in March 2024
Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow Open Up About Their "Rift" Over Pie
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing a tiara featuring emeralds
Why Princess Madeleine of Sweden Can't Use Her Royal Title to Promote Her New Skincare Line
Latest in News
Selena Gomez with silver earrings, a straight bob haircut and natural makeup
Selena Gomez Hosts a Master Class in Matching Your Red Blush and Red Lipstick to Your Outfit
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre in Maseru, Lesotho in October 2024
Why Prince Harry Is So "Torn Apart" Over Resigning From His Charity
Taylor Swift singing in a giant martini glass in the Bejeweled music video
How Working With Taylor Swift Was Different Than Dita Von Teese Expected
Selena Gomez red outfit
Selena Gomez Breaks Her All-Black Billionaire Dress Code for Two Inescapable Spring 2025 Color Trends
Zendaya stands on a red carpet wearing a white halter dress
Zendaya's First 'Odyssey' Photos Will Definitely Inspire a Greek Goddess Dress Trend
Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries, and Kris Jenner posing with a car-shaped birthday cake at Marquee Nightclub in Las Vegas in October 2011
Kris Jenner Is Still Making Fun of Kim Kardashian for Her 72-Day Marriage