Prince Harry thought about quitting royal life in his 20s
Prince Harry compared his royal experience to being on "The Truman Show" and "living in a zoo."
The Duke of Sussex said during a Thursday episode of the "Armchair Expert" podcast that he contemplated quitting royal life on several occasions while in his 20s. He spoke candidly with host Dax Shepard about keeping his relationship with Meghan a secret and dealing with the U.K. media scrutiny.
Harry thought his life was like the 1998 Jim Carrey film "The Truman Show." The film tells a story about Truman Burbank's life being televised through hidden cameras while encountering people who were hired actors.
Harry said it was a heavy burden and he struggled to deal with being a member of the royal family. He feared that his pregnant wife and son, Archie, would have to deal with the spotlight the same way his late mother, Princess Diana, had to deal with the enormous attention.
In 1997, Diana died in a car crash at the age of 36 in Paris while being pursued by paparazzi.
"I don't want this job, I don't want to be here, I don't want to be doing this. Look what it did to my mum," the 36-year-old Harry said.
In a previous interview, Harry said the royal family cut him off financially at the start of 2020 after he announced plans to step back from his roles. But he was able to afford security for his family because of the money his mother left behind.
Harry and Meghan's departure from royal duties began last year over what they described as the British media's intrusions and racist attitudes toward the duchess. He criticized some American media outlets but said they are an improvement over the ones in the U.K.
He feels more liberated after he and his family moved to California.
"Living here now I can actually lift my head and actually feel different," said Harry, who added he's able to take Archie for bicycle rides. "You can walk around feeling a little bit more free."
Photos: Harry and Meghan through the years
2017: Royal engagement
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan
Markle pose for the media in the grounds of Kensington Palace in
London, Monday Nov. 27, 2017. It was announced Monday that Prince Harry,
fifth in line for the British throne, will marry American actress
Meghan Markle in the spring, confirming months of rumors. 
2018: Tour of Edinburgh
Britain's Prince Harry and his
fiancee Meghan Markle meet a Shetland Pony as they arrive at Edinburgh
Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. The recently
engaged couple are on a one day tour to Edinburgh, and will visit the
Castle and observe the firing of the One O'clock Gun. 
2018: The royal wedding
Britain's Prince Harry and his
wife Meghan Markle ride a horse-drawn carriage, after their wedding
ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near
London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. 
2018: The royal wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
leave after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor
Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. 
2018: With the queen
Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Prince
Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex pose for a group photo at the
Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London,
Tuesday, June 26, 2018. 
2018: WellChild Awards
Britian's Prince Harry, the
patron of the charity WellChild and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of
Sussex meet four-year-old Mckenzie Brackley and his mother, during the
annual WellChild Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, Tuesday,
Sept. 4, 2018. The couple attended the annual WellChild awards Tuesday
for the charity, who help to get seriously ill children and young people
out of hospital and home to their families. 
2018: Sydney, Australia
Britain's Prince Harry and
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet with a local surfing community group,
known as OneWave, raising awareness for mental health and wellbeing in a
fun and engaging way at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Oct.
19, 2018. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are on day four of their
16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific. 
2018: Fraser Island, Australia
Britain's Prince Harry, left, and
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk along Kingfisher Bay Jetty during a
visit to Fraser Island, Australia, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. Prince Harry
and his wife Meghan are on day seven of their 16-day tour of Australia
and the South Pacific. 
2018: Sydney, Australia
Britain's Prince Harry and
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet Ruby a mother Koala who gave birth to
koala joey Meghan, named after Her Royal Highness, with a second joey
named Harry after His Royal Highness during a visit to Taronga Zoo in
Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. Prince Harry and his wife
Meghan are on a 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific. 
2018: Dubbo, Australia
Britain's Prince Harry and
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are embraced by Luke Vincent, 5, on their
arrival in Dubbo, Australia, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. Prince Harry and
his wife Meghan are on day two of their 16-day tour of Australia and the
South Pacific. 
2019: Trip to Morocco
Britain's Prince Harry and
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex stop to stroke horses in their stables during a
visit to the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports in Rabat in
Morocco, Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on a
three day visit to the country. 
2019: Birth of son Archie
Britain's Prince Harry and
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during a photocall with their newborn son, in
St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, Windsor, south England, Wednesday
May 8, 2019.
2019: 91st Field of Remembrance
Britain's Prince Harry and
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex attend the 91st Field of Remembrance at
Westminster Abbey in London, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019.
2020: Endeavour Fund Awards
Britain's Prince Harry and
Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the annual Endeavour
Fund Awards in London, Thursday, March 5, 2020. The awards celebrate the
achievements of service personnel who were injured in service and have
gone on to use sport as part of their recovery and rehabilitation. 