Expert Reveals How Prince Harry Feels About His Life In California

The royal family continues to find itself in intense conflict. Communication between family members is as strained as ever, with arguably the most degraded relationship existing between Prince William and Prince Harry. The two brothers continue to have a strained dynamic after months of public feuding, and Harry and Kate Middleton's relationship is but another casualty. But despite the fallout, Harry and Meghan Markle are happier than ever together, which should be all that matters, right?

Harry and Meghan now live in California, divorced from the royal family and lifestyle. In fact, Harry feels "spiritually at home" in California — something he could never say when living in the United Kingdom (via the Daily Mail). The Daily Mail reported that this update comes from his friend Bryony Gordon, a journalist who Harry first met in 2017 when he spoke about his mental health on her podcast, "Mad World." Gordon reported that Harry, who now lives in a $14 million mansion in California with Meghan Markle and their son Archie, has found a "sense of purpose" living in the United States.

Bryony Gordon revealed that Prince Harry has been "set free" by choosing to live in the United States, as he no longer carries the same obligations and expectations as he did when living with the royal family (via The Sun). She further explained that, in addition to his newfound sense of purpose, Harry has found a new inner peace.

"He is no longer living in fear of the repercussions of existing as himself, as he wants and needs to be," Gordon revealed (via The Sun). Harry's newfound freedom could also be in part due to California's culture, where issues like mental health are widely discussed. We can easily see why Harry would feel so free there, especially knowing what he's been through over the last several years.

What's more, Gordon says that all of Harry's negative feelings of the past have been lifted from him as he embarks on this new life with his wife. He has removed the shackles from his body, not only in his exiting from his family, but also in his own spiritual and emotional way, and with those obstructions to his own personal progress out of the way, there is nothing but an open road of opportunity ahead of the duke.

In this new era for Prince Harry, the duke is becoming more open and honest than ever, and this no doubt factors into why he's experiencing so much inner peace at the moment. Oprah Winfrey reports that, when she asked him what the biggest problem in the world is, the duke told her there are two. She clarified, "He said climate change and mental wellness, mental fitness and mental health" (via The Sun).

The latter set of problems come as no surprise given his own circumstances, but it's nice to see someone in such a lofty position in society recognize climate change on this scale. Harry is currently expecting his second child with Meghan Markle, so it actually makes sense that Harry should want what's best for the planet for his children.

In addition to being candid with Oprah, Harry has been further candid with Bryony Gordon. "He knows he's made mistakes — who among us hasn't?" Gordon said (via the Daily Mail). Admitting one's own mistakes is much harder than calling out others for their mistakes, so this honesty on his part shows incredible growth in the duke. We just hope that the duke's sense of purpose and peace stick around.

Prince Harry is also putting his money where his mouth is. He is funneling his feelings into a creative endeavor alongside Oprah Winfrey, and we can't imagine a better start to a new life than that! Harry and Winfrey co-created and executive produced the new television series, "The Me You Can't See," which is slated for a May 21, 2021, premiere on Apple TV+ (via The Sun).

On the new series, Harry explained, "The majority of us carry some form of unresolved trauma, loss, or grief, which feels — and is — very personal. Yet the last year has shown us that we are all in this together and my hope is that this series will show there is power in vulnerability, connection in empathy and strength in honesty" (via The Sun). Celebrity guests currently slated to appear on the show include Lady Gaga, Glenn Close, and Rashad Armstead (via Harper's Bazaar).

Ultimately, Harry knows his position in society, even if he's divorced from the royal family. Gordon explained that Harry "expects and accepts" criticism of him and his decisions, not only because he's a high-profile figure, but also because of how public his and Meghan Markle's exit from the family has been (via the Daily Mail). We hope people send him nothing but support, because mental health is never easy to maintain for anyone, especially someone so publicly visible.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.