Prince Harry couldn’t resist making jokes about his upbringing as a royal, five years on from stepping away from his senior role
Samantha Masters Content Editor and Charlie Bradley
16:22, 06 Dec 2025Updated 16:27, 06 Dec 2025
Prince Harry mentioned ‘drama’ during his speech (Image: Pool AP/ Martin Meissner)
Prince Harry playfully poked fun at the Royal Family during a speech to business leaders in Los Angeles on Friday. The Duke of Sussex was addressing attendees at the British American Business Council of Los Angeles’ 65th Christmas luncheon, where he touched upon topics such as the World Cup, British culture, and American independence.
In a light-hearted comparison of his own upbringing, Harry reportedly quipped: “People sometimes ask if growing up with the royal family was a bit like Julian’s Downton Abbey – yeah. But only one of those worlds is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, marriages to Americans and the other is a TV show.”
Regarding American independence, the Prince humorously added: “It’s a new world to me, celebrating independence from Britain and more specifically, independence from my great, great, great, great, great great grandfather.
“But look, I don’t take it personally and nor should you, but it does feel oddly reminiscent.”
Prince Harry said he’s often asked if the Royal Family is like Downton Abbey (Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
He continued, “After all, we were able to leave our mark in other ways, mostly just through originally naming places after towns and cities back home, Boston, Massachusetts, and Lincolnshire, Manchester, New Hampshire and England, Birmingham, Alabama and England, Richmond, Virginia and England,” reports the Express.
“I’ve never quite understood why they did that. It surely can’t be because it reminded them of their hometowns.”
Noticeably absent from his speech was any mention of his wife, Meghan Markle, or her father, Thomas Markle, who is reportedly seriously ill in a hospital in the Philippines.
It is believed that Thomas has undergone an operation resulting in the amputation of his leg.
A representative for Meghan confirmed that the Duchess “has reached out to her father” following his medical difficulties.
Meghan’s relationship with her father has been estranged since 2018, ahead of her wedding to Harry.
Meghan has reached out to her dad Thomas Markle (Image: ITV)
At the time, it was reported that Thomas conspired with photographers who compensated him for staged pictures showing him getting ready for the big day.
Thomas was absent from the ceremony as a consequence, though he attributed his non-attendance to medical problems.
In the years following, Thomas has publicly criticised Meghan through various media outlets.
During one interview, he remarked: “I think they’re both turning into lost souls at this point.” He continued: “I don’t know what they’re looking for.”
Previously addressing Meghan and her father’s rocky relationship in their joint Netflix documentary, Harry said: “She had a father before this and now she doesn’t have a father. If Meg wasn’t with me, then her dad would still be her dad.”
Harry has also had a fractured relationship with some of his family members since stepping back from his senior duties in 2020 and moving to America with Meghan.
In May, Harry told the BBC: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
The pair have since met privately over tea, although he has yet to repair his relationship with his brother, Prince William.