Prince Harry ‘Grateful’ to Be Raising Archie and Lilibet in the U.S.: ‘It’s the Life My Mom Wanted for Me’

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Lilibet, and Archie in Still from "Harry & Meghan" Documentary

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie. Photo: Netflix/YouTube

Prince Harry is putting down roots in the United States.

On Dec. 4, the Duke of Sussex, 40, opened up about raising his two kids with wife, Meghan Markle, in the U.S. while in conversation with columnist and Dealbook founder Andrew Ross Sorkin at The New York Times DealBook Online Summit in New York City.

When Sorkin, 47, asked whether he wants to stay in the U.S., especially amid the concerns for his safety in the United Kingdom, Prince Harry said, “I do.”

He continued, “I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here. It’s a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 04, 2024 in New York City.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 on Dec. 4, 2024 in New York City.Eugene Gologursky/Getty

The Duke of Sussex added, “I feel as though it’s the life that my mom wanted for me. To be able to do the things I’m able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the U.K. — it’s huge. That is a fantastic opportunity and I’m hugely grateful for that.”

Prince Harry and Meghan, 43, share two children, son Prince Archie, 5, and daughter, Princess Lilibet, 3, whom they are raising in Montecito, Calif.

Prince Harry and Princess Diana Tout

Prince Harry on Dec. 4, 2024; Princess Diana.Eugene Gologursky/Getty; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

PEOPLE previously reported that Prince Harry officially changed his listed country of residence on paperwork from the U.K. to the U.S. in 2023, following his move to California with his wife in 2020 after they stepped back from their royal duties.

Around the same time, the Keeper of the Privy Purse announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had “vacated” their Frogmore Cottage in the U.K. in Windsor after being asked to leave the residence.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the 2024 ESPY Awards on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, Calif.Kevin Mazur/Getty

During the summit, Prince Harry also spoke about disinformation in the media and related it to his late mother’s past experience. “I’ve seen stories written about myself not exactly based in reality, he said at the event. “When you grow up with that environment, you find yourself questioning the validity of the information, but also what other people are thinking as well, and how dangerous it can be over the course of time.”

Prince Harry Delivers Emotional Message About His ‘Mother’s Belief in Young People’ at Diana Award Ceremony

“I think again, when you are kind of trapped within this bubble, it kind of feels like there’s no way out,” he added. “What happened to my mom and the fact that I was a kid and felt helpless, there comes the inner turmoil. I felt helpless. One of my biggest weaknesses is feeling helpless.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 04, 2024 in New York City.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024 on Dec. 4, 2024 in New York City.Eugene Gologursky/Getty

Prince Harry continued to express fear that the culture would affect his family, saying, “What worried me most was worrying that would happen to me, or to my wife, or to my kids.”

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The event had a starry lineup with other mainstage interviews including Jeff Bezos, Bill Clinton, Alex Cooper, Serena Williams, Open AI co-founder Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

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Meghan previously participated in the summit in November 2021.

The Duchess of Sussex recently opened up about her love for spending the holidays with her family in an interview with Marie Claire, during which she noted that “every year it gets better.”

“At first, I think as a mom with children you’re just enjoying having them there, but they’re not understanding everything that’s happening yet,” she said. “But now we’re at the age where I just can’t wait to see it through their lens every year.”

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