Prince Harry says 'The Crown' is more truthful than the media

Prince Harry went on a sightseeing tour with James Corden around Los Angeles on The Late Late Show Thursday night, where Harry shared his thoughts on Netflix's award-winning series The Crown.

"They don't pretend to be news, it's fictional. But it's loosely based on the truth," Harry explained to Corden. "Of course it's not strictly accurate. But loosely, it gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle, what the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else, what can come from that."

On January 8th of 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle shocked the world, when they announced they were stepping away from their royal family roles, following months of speaking out on the intense media scrutiny they've faced. During his discussion with Corden Thursday, Harry admitted that he prefers the fictionalized version of his world over the media's version.

Harry stated, "I am way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife, or myself, because it's the difference between – that is obviously fiction, take it how you will, but this is being reported on as fact because you are supposedly news. I have a real issue with that."

While Harry has made it clear that "it was never walking away, it was stepping back rather than stepping down," he shared why it was a necessary move, as he told Corden, "You know, it was a really difficult environment, as I think a lot of people saw. We all know what the British press can be like, and it was destroying my mental health. I was, like, this is toxic."

Video transcript

PRINCE HARRY: They don't pretend to be news. It's fictional. But it's loosely based on the truth.

KYLIE MAR: James Corden took his buddy Prince Harry on a sightseeing tour around Los Angeles on "The Late Late Show" Thursday night, where Harry shared his thoughts on Netflix's award winning series "The Crown."

PRINCE HARRY: Of course, it's not strictly accurate.

JAMES CORDEN: Of course not.

PRINCE HARRY: But loosely--

JAMES CORDEN: But you do think loosely it does feel like--

PRINCE HARRY: It gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle and what the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else what can come from that.

KYLIE MAR: In January of 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shocked the world when they announced they were stepping down from their royal family roles following months of speaking out on the intense media scrutiny they faced. And on Thursday, Harry admitted that he prefers the fictionalized version of his world over the media's version.

PRINCE HARRY: I'm way more comfortable with "The Crown" than I am seeing the stories written about my family or my wife or myself. That is obviously fiction. Take it how you will. But this is being reported on as fact, because you're supposedly news.

JAMES CORDEN: Yeah.

PRINCE HARRY: I have a real issue with that.

KYLIE MAR: While Harry has made it clear that it was never about walking away or stepping down, but rather stepping back, he told Corden why it was necessary. It was a really difficult environment, as I think a lot of people saw. We all know what the British press can be like. And it was destroying my mental health.

JAMES CORDEN: Really? I was like, this is toxic.