LONDON (AP) – Prince Harry, who left England for Southern California last year, rapped the theme song to the 1990s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” on a late-night talk show in which he said he did not. Don’t run away from his royal duties.
During a segment on the CBS television network’s “The Late, Late Show with James Corden” that aired early Friday, Harry said he decided to step down from his job as a frontline member of the Royal Family to protect his wife and son. – and his sanity.
“It was a step back rather than a step back,” he told Corden. “It was a really tough environment, which I think a lot of people saw, so I did what any father or husband would do and thought, ‘How do I get my family out of here?’ But we never ran away, and as far as I’m concerned, whatever decisions are made on that side, I’ll never run away. ”
The performance marked Harry’s first interview since his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, stripped the prince and his wife, former actress Meghan Markle, of their remaining royal duties earlier this month. Corden’s coup surpassed Oprah Winfrey, whose interview with the pair is scheduled for March 7.
The Queen announced her decision on February 19, saying it was not possible for the couple to “carry on with the responsibilities and duties of living in public service” after they parted ways with the royal family. . Harry and Meghan responded by saying “service is universal” and underscored their commitment to the UK, a response seen by some as disrespectful to the Queen.
Whatever issues have divided the royals, Harry suggested he and Meghan stay in touch with the monarch and her husband, Prince Philip. Harry told Corden that the monarch gave Harry and Meghan’s son Archie a waffle iron for Christmas and that the senior royals had seen the toddler “run around” through Zoom in California.
The prince also offered a glimpse into the couple’s life in the wealthy Montecito enclave in Santa Barbara County, where they generally watch the game show “Jeopardy” and Netflix programs before going to bed. Archie’s first word was “crocodile,” said Harry.
During the light-hearted segment, which didn’t hit the royal couple’s commercial ventures, Corden and the Prince tour Southern California in an open-top bus. At one point they arrived outside the mansion where the opening scene of Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince” was filmed.
“If it was good enough for the Fresh Prince, it would be good enough for a real prince,” says Corden as he walks up the driveway. “Do you remember the song?”
“This is the story, all about how, my life was turned upside down, just take a minute now,” Harry raps before asking Corden for help.
“And sit there, I’ll tell you how I was called the prince of the city …” says Corden.
“Bel-Air,” Harry finishes the song.
Corden then jokingly tried to convince Harry to buy the sprawling mansion, by posting a video call with Meghan to seek her support. She objected.
“I think we’ve done enough moving,” she said.
Meghan then asked “Haz” how his Los Angeles tour was going, and Corden asked Harry about the nickname.
“I didn’t know we called you Haz now,” Corden said.
“You’re not my wife,” Harry replied with a shrug, while both men chuckled.