Prince Harry Jokes About the "Drama" and "Intrigue" of Growing Up Royal, Compares Marrying Meghan Markle to 'Downton Abbey' Plot

"That partnership is deeply personal to me."

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Meghan Markle wears a white halter top and waves while Prince Harry, who has red hair, wears a gray suit jacket and white shirt
(Image credit: Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)

Having grown up within the British Royal Family, and then moved to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry has had a more dramatic life than most. Luckily, the Duke of Sussex has a sense of humor when it comes to his surprising life path, and he knows it has a little in common with Downton Abbey.

At a networking event celebrating relationships between the U.S. and the U.K., Prince Harry delivered a keynote speech, which included some pretty funny jokes. "People sometimes ask if growing up with the Royal Family was a bit like Julian [Fellowes]'s Downton Abbey," Harry told the audience (via Hello! magazine). "Yeah, but only one of those worlds is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, marriages to Americans, and the other is a TV show."

The Duke of Sussex also referenced the fact that much of the FIFA World Cup would be taking place in the U.S. in 2026. "Next year, we are all welcoming many more fellow Brits from across the pond, provided they behave, and that they make it through customs, past ICE," he said. He then noted his surprise that "both England and Scotland have qualified" for the competition, calling it "a Christmas miracle."

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sitting in seats wearing Dodgers hats at the World series

"Only one of those worlds is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, marriages to Americans."

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The prince also referenced his time serving in Afghanistan, and the crucial relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. "That partnership is deeply personal to me," he noted. "Not only because my family and my life are here today, but because of the extraordinary American servicemen and women I've had the honor of serving alongside in Afghanistan. Our two nations's bond rests on centuries of friendship, shared values, innovation, and mutual prosperity."

Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth and King Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Harry and Meghan standing behind them

"People sometimes ask if growing up with the Royal Family was a bit like...Downton Abbey."

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Basically, as a Brit living in America, Prince Harry was perfectly placed to deliver the keynote at an event honoring both countries.

Amy Mackelden
Amy Mackelden
Weekend Editor

Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.