"Drama, intrigue, and marriages to Americans." Prince Harry compared life in the royal family to the TV series "Downton Abbey."

Prince Harry, who stepped down from royal duties with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020 to live in the United States, compared his life in the royal family to the British TV series "Downton Abbey."

The Duke of Sussex was the guest of honor and speaker at the British-American Business Council's annual Christmas event in Santa Monica. In his speech, Harry compared life in the royal family to the iconic British sitcom: "People sometimes ask if growing up in the royal family was like Downton Abbey. Yes, but one of those worlds is full of drama, intrigue, lavish dinners, and marrying Americans, and the other is just a sitcom."

He admitted that celebrating Independence Day was a revelation for him: "It's a new world for me—celebrating independence from Britain. More precisely, independence from my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. For me, being British isn't about where you stand, but what you stand for."

Earlier, Prince Harry appeared on Stephen Colbert's late-night show and jokingly stated that he gained "connections" in Hollywood thanks to his wife, Meghan Markle. She herself recently returned to filming for the first time in a while, in which she will play herself.

Hollywood actress Meghan Markle and Prince Harry married in 2018. Two years later, they stepped back from their royal duties and moved to California. Harry has made no secret of his longing for his homeland and his family, with whom he fell out after his controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey and the release of his memoir. In it, he accused his relatives of racism and stated that he had always been a "spare" heir to the family.

In the US, Meghan and Harry are raising their two children, Archie and Lilibet, and are also trying to develop their businesses. Many of their ventures are unprofitable, and Meghan herself is regularly criticized for her insincerity. However, she has no plans to return to the UK and often speaks negatively about life there.

Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images/Meghan/Instagram**