Prince Harry seeks 'more peaceful life' as reluctantly ends royal role

Britain's Prince Harry expressed "great sadness" over his decision to step down from royal duties.

"Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible," Harry said in his first public statement.

"I've accepted this knowing it doesn't change who I am, or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.

"The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly," he said. "It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option."

In a speech to the Sentebale charity on Sunday, a clearly upset Harry said it has brought him "great sadness" and that there was "really no other option".

"The UK is my home and a place that I love. That will never change," he said.