00:04Good evening everyone and thank you very much for being here for Centre Bali, a charity that
00:10myself and Prince Esso created all the way back in 2006 to honour our mother's legacy in supporting
00:17those affected by HIV and AIDS. Before I begin I must say that I can only imagine what you may
00:24have heard or perhaps read over the past few weeks. So I want you to hear the truth from me
00:32as much as I
00:33can share, not as a Prince or a Duke but as Harry, the same person that many of you have
00:39watched grow
00:40up over the last 35 years but now with a clearer perspective. The UK is my home and a place
00:48that I
00:48love. That will never change. I've grown up feeling supported from so many of you and I watched as you
00:57welcomed Megan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I'd hoped for all my
01:04life. Finally the second son of Diana got hitched. Hooray. I also know that you've come to know me
01:15well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values
01:22as I do and she does and she's the same woman I fell in love with. We both do everything
01:29we can to
01:30fly the flag and carry out our roles for this country with pride. Once Megan and I were married
01:37we were excited, we were hopeful and we were here to serve. For those reasons it brings me great
01:44sadness that it has come to this. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step
01:51back
01:52is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges
01:59and I know I haven't always gotten it right but as far as this goes there really was no other
02:04option.
02:05What I want to make clear is we're not walking away and we certainly aren't walking away from you.
02:12Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations
02:18but without public funding. Unfortunately that wasn't possible. I've accepted this knowing that
02:25it doesn't change who I am or how committed I am but I hope that helps you understand what it
02:31had come
02:32to. That I would step my family back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into
02:40what I hope
02:40can be a more peaceful life. I was born into this life and it is a great honour to serve
02:46my country
02:46and the Queen. When I lost my mum 23 years ago you took me under your wing. You looked out
02:54for me for so long
02:55but the media is a powerful force and my hope is one day our collective support for each other
03:01can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us.
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