The Duke of Sussex, 36, lifted the lid on his new life in the chat after he and wife Meghan Markle decided to quit for good as senior working royals.

Harry insisted he has not turned his back on the Royal Family, telling Corden: ‘(It) was never walking away, it was stepping back rather than stepping down.’

The royal slammed the British press for driving his family overseas to California, while Meghan, 39, also made a brief cameo to reveal how she affectionately refers to her husband as ‘Haz’.

But palace insiders have allegedly said the decision to speak to Corden on The Late Late Show has sparked ‘disquiet’.

The dad-of-one has also been criticised for the timing of the appearance, which came hours after the Queen made a rare statement urging people dubious about having the Covid vaccine to ‘think about others’.

A source reportedly told Mail Online: ‘When the Queen speaks like this it is her message that should be heard without other distractions. This lack of coordination is unhelpful.’

The Queen has urged people concerned about taking the coronavirus vaccine to ‘think of others’

Prince Harry drinking tea during his appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden

During the casual outing in LA, the duke also revealed how the Queen bought a waffle maker for son Archie, who turns two in May, as a Christmas present. The proud father said his son’s first words were crocodile.

But royal expert Phil Dampier said: ‘As the Queen urges us to think of others, Prince Harry prances about in LA and makes the absurd claim that he hasn’t walked away from the royals. What planet is he on? Hollywood I suppose.’

Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also pulled no punches, claiming Harry had ‘made an idiot’ of himself.

He told Mail Online: ‘He reveals the Queen gave Archie a waffle maker for Christmas. Waffle is what he does. The script is puerile. It’s nauseating to watch, all 17 minutes of it.’

Nonetheless, the interview was well-received by many online, with people saying the ‘relatable’ duke was looking ‘happy and healthy’.

It comes as Prince Philip, 99, remains in hospital for a second weekend.

The TV appearance is said to have been filmed before Harry and Meghan – who are expecting their second child – announced they are never returning to the royal fold.

The Queen is said to have been ‘blindsided’ after Harry apparently failed to mention the couple’s upcoming ‘tell-all’ interview with Oprah Winfrey.

However, Harry has insisted he will continue his duties from across the pond, telling Corden: ‘My life is always going to be about public service and Meghan signed up to that.’