Harry takes the heat off Meghan: 'The decision I made'

Prince Harry has come to his wife's defence, taking the heat off Meghan Markle by taking responsibility for their decision to step back from royal life.

The duo announced the move 10 days ago in a statement that rocked the world, prompting mass media coverage of what many called "Megxit".

But the nickname carried a serious implication – that Meghan was to blame for the unprecedented step to ditch royal life in favour of privacy and financial independence.

It lead to massive backlash against the duchess, but Harry has now come to his wife's defence, claiming the decision as his own in a deeply personal speech on Sunday.

"Before I begin, I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard or perhaps read over the last few weeks," Harry said at an event for his charity, Sentenale.

"So, I want you to hear the truth from me, as much as I can share."

In the days since the Sussexes announced their decision to 'step back', global news headlines have been dominated by 'Megxit' speculation, blaming the duchess for the couple's choice.

But now Harry has made clear that's not the case, explaining the reasoning behind "his decision" to leave royal life behind.

"The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges," the prince revealed in his candid speech.

"And I know I haven't always got it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. What I want to make clear is we're not walking away, and we certainly aren't walking away from you."

In his speech, Harry owned the move to step down as his own, contradicting tabloid claims that Meghan was solely to blame.

Since it was announced, there has been ongoing and vicious speculation about how and why Meghan must have convinced Harry to 'leave his family behind'.

According to Harry, these rumours couldn't be further from the truth – and royal experts agree.

"This idea that Meghan is behind everything, I don't buy that," royal commentator Katie Nicholl told 9Honey when the news first broke.

"I think a lot of people will want to blame Meghan for this and I think there's been a real backlash already.

"She's being blamed not only for separating or creating a division between Harry and his brother and now, pulling him away from his family."

But according to Nicholl, Harry has always been a force of his own and his strong-willed nature likely played a major role in the couple's decision to step back.

"Everything I've seen of them as a couple, they are a team. And I think they probably came to this decision together," Nicholl said.

The prince, who has been protective of Meghan since their relationship was first made public, also took the chance to remind people that he chose to pursue a life with her for a reason.

"I know you've come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do," he said.

"And she does, and she's the same woman I fell in love with."

Harry also expressed his "sadness" that he and Meghan had come to the point where they felt that stepping back was their only option, following years of intense media scrutiny and public criticism.

"We both do everything we can to fly the flag and carry out our roles for this country with pride," Harry said.

"Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve. For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this."

On Saturday, Buckingham Palace announced the details of the couple's new roles, which will see them unable to use their HRH titles, lose public funding and their positions as working royals.

And though Harry has admitted his "sadness" over the change, he and Meghan are also believed to be unhappy with the terms of their departure from the royal family.

Unlike the "half in, half out" roles they described on their Sussex Royal website, the couple face greatly reduced royal benefits and status in exchange for their freedom and privacy from public life.

Harry touched on the issue in his speech, adding: "Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding.

"Unfortunately, that wasn't possible."