The Duke of Sussex revealed his goal to move to a different continent and lifelong ambition to pursue humanitarian causes in an unearthed 2007 interview. Then aged 22, he appeared alongside brother Prince William, 24, in a chat from home for US TV.
The Sussexes’ shared desire to speak out on difficult topics such as mental health is further evidence of this, he says, as Harry has revealed his battles with anxiety while Meghan has written about her heartbreaking miscarriage.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: “The humanitarian aspect of Meghan and Harry’s earlier lives is pivotal to what they want to do, as you can see with the launch of Archewell.”
In the interview from 13 years ago with the Today programme, a baby-faced Harry tells of his plans for future work.
He said: “I’d probably live in Africa – I’d like to spend all my time out there…In a humanitarian aspect as well as a safari aspect. As a job, it would probably be a safari guide while at the same time spending my time between a charity in Lesotho.”
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Mr Fitzwilliams said: “Both William and Harry had a particular affinity with Africa and this links naturally with the feeling that there is so much press intrusion elsewhere but Africa was one of the places where there was anonymity.
“The humanitarian aspect of Meghan and Harry’s earlier lives is pivotal to what they want to do, as you can see with the launch of Archewell.
“Harry has spoken out bravely more than any other member of the royal family about the stress he has felt and about his mental health.
“Meghan has spoken about her miscarriage in a very powerful article.
“They want to break down taboos which make it difficult for others who suffer in silence.
“In these two connections you can see the meeting of their minds.”
Meghan has also been committed to helping people from a very young age, and described volunteering at a soup kitchen, as revealed in 2017 book The Game Changers.
She wrote: “I started working at a soup kitchen in Skid Row of Los Angeles when I was 13 years old, and the first day I felt really scared.
“I was young, and it was rough and raw down there and, though I was with a great volunteer group, I just felt overwhelmed.
“I remember one of my mentors told me that ‘life is about putting others’ needs above your own fears’.
“That has always stayed with me.”
Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, toured southern Africa in September and October 2019 with son Archie – their first official tour as a family.
