The Duke of Sussex spoke of his family life during a chat with British talk-show host James Corden and revealed that his son Archie's first word was "crocodile" and that Queen Elizabeth II gave him a waffle maker for Christmas.
Prince Harry was speaking on an open-top bus in Los Angeles for an interview for The Late Late Show.
The interview was filmed before Buckingham Palace confirmed the couple would not be returning as working members of the royal family.
The segment opened with Corden telling him to pay his bus fare, to which Prince Harry said: “You know us royals – we don’t carry cash.”
Corden then served him afternoon tea while pointing out celebrity homes across Los Angeles.
During a visit to the house that featured in 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Prince Harry rapped the famous theme song, which was originally performed by Will Smith.
He also addressed topics such as his decision to step down as a senior working royal and the portrayal of the British royal family on Nexflix drama The Crown.
He denied that he "walked away" from the royal family but said he needed to leave the UK because the British press was toxic and was affecting his mental health.
“I did what any husband and father would do – I need to get my family out of here,” he said.
"But we never walked away and as far as I'm concerned, what decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away."
Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, stepped down as senior working royals in March last year.
Asked what he thought his life would be like after lockdown, Prince Harry said: “My life is always going to be about public service and Meghan signed up to that.”
He also defended The Crown's portrayal of his family despite the show receiving criticism for its depiction of personal events.
“They don't pretend to be news – it's fictional. But it's loosely based on the truth,” he said.
"Of course it's not strictly accurate, but it gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle – the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else – what can come from that."
"I'm way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife or myself."
Prince Harry said that he would want Homeland star Damian Lewis to play him in the series.
He also spoke about his early relationship with the Duchess of Sussex, revealing that their first dates took place at home and only once they were a couple did they appear together in public.
“We got to spend an enormous amount of time, just the two of us,” he said. “There were no distractions and that was great, it was an amazing thing. We went from zero to 60 in the first two months.”
He said an ordinary night at home was spent making Archie’s dinner, giving him a bath and reading him a book before he and and his wife spend time together.
Buckingham Palace said last week that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would not be returning as working royals at the end of the one-year transition period.
The queen said that after stepping away from the royal family it was "not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service".
A spokesman for the duke and duchess said: "We can all live a life of service. Service is universal."
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
