Prince Harry’s polo pal Nacho Figueras says royal has ‘suffered a lot,’ ‘wants to live a normal life’
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prince Harry’s polo pal Nacho Figueras is coming forward to defend the British royal.
The Argentine polo player told "Good Morning America" on Wednesday that he spoke to his close friend a few days ago following the 35-year-old’s decision to “step back” as a senior royal alongside his wife Meghan Markle.
Figueras, 42, regularly plays polo with Harry and was one of the first to meet the prince's baby, Archie, U.K.’s Daily Mail reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“He has suffered a lot for all the things that have happened to him,” Figueras explained. “He wants to live a normal life, as normal as his life is going to be. When you have 1,000 paparazzi outside your house in Canada waiting to get one picture of your son, that’s not normal. He’s protecting his family, he’s protecting his wife and child.”
MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY DUBBED 'JUNIOR OBAMAS,' SET TO BECOME 'BILLIONAIRES' AFTER MEGXIT
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Nacho Figueras. (Photo by Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images)
MEGHAN MARKLE ‘NEVER REALLY CAME TO TERMS WITH WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF THE ROYAL FAMILY,’ SOURCE CLAIMS
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“He was the son of someone who suffered attacks from the press and it’s undeniable,” continued Figueras. “He doesn’t want that to happen for his family.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced on Jan. 8 they will take “a step back” as senior members of the royal family and instead work independently, splitting their time between the United Kingdom and Canada.
The couple said their decision came “after many months of reflection and internal discussions.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," the couple shared on Instagram. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are stepping back from royal duties. (AP)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages," they continued. "This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity."
The couple added they will continue to work with the reigning monarch, 93, as well as Harry’s father Prince Charles and his older brother Prince William.
"We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support," the Sussexes wrote.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They will keep their royal titles.
Harry, Duke of Sussex and Nacho Figueras have played polo together for years. (Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images for St Regis Hotel & Resorts)
PRINCE WILLIAM APPOINTED TO NEW ROYAL POSITION BY QUEEN AMID MEGXIT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Their announcement comes just months after the couple opened up to host Tom Bradby in ITV’s documentary “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey,” which aired in October 2019 in both the U.K. and U.S.
While the special aimed to give audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the couple’s recent royal tour of southern African, the couple also spoke out about enduring ruthless tabloid rumors as new parents.
Markle, 38, and Harry welcomed their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, in May 2019. The baby’s arrival came a year after the couple tied the knot in a televised royal ceremony in May 2018.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I think the grass is always greener,” explained the former “Suits” actress. “You have no idea. It’s really hard to understand what it’s like. I know what it seems like it should be, but it’s a very different thing.”
MEGHAN MARKLE HIGHLIGHTS HER CHARITY WORK PRIOR TO MEETING PRINCE HARRY ON SUSSEX ROYAL INSTAGRAM
Meghan Markle's alleged request for privacy has sparked a fiery debate on social media. (AP)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Markle said she and her husband have had conversations about being in the spotlight and all the negativity that comes with it.
“I have said for a long time to H, that’s what I call him, ‘It’s not enough to just survive something,’” said Markle. “'That’s not the point of life. You have to thrive. You have got to feel happy.’ I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a ‘stiff upper life.’ I really tried, but I think that what that does internally is probably really damaging.”
The royal went on to tell Bradby she would be more understanding about the scrutiny if it were fair.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair,” said Markle. “And that’s the part that’s really hard to reconcile.”
Markle said before she tied the knot with Harry, some of her friends warned her that becoming a member of the royal family would mean being under the constant glare of the public spotlight and losing your privacy.
CANADIANS DEMAND MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY PAY FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY IN NEW PETITION
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Britain's Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle hold their baby son Archie as they meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town on Sep. 25, 2019. (Getty)
“In all fairness, I had no idea, which probably sounds difficult to understand and hear,” said Markle. “But when I first met my now-husband, my friends were really happy because I was so happy, but my British friends said to me, ‘I’m sure he’s great but you shouldn’t do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life.’
“And I, very naively — I’m American,” continued Markle. “We don’t have that there — [I said], ‘What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not in any tabloids.’ I didn’t get it. So it’s been, yeah, it’s been complicated.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Markle also pointed out it’s been frustrating to see her name — along with her family’s — in headlines concerning stories she stressed just aren’t true.
“If things are fair, that completely tracks for me if things are fair,” said Markle. “If I do something wrong I’d be the first one to go, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I would never do that,’ but when people are saying things that are just untrue and they’re being told they’re untrue but they’re allowed to still say them, I don’t know anybody in the world who would feel that that’s OK. And that’s different than just scrutiny. That’s, what would you call that? That’s a different beast. It’s really a different beast.”
Markle also got candid with Bradby about the negative attention she has received from the media during her pregnancy and first months with Archie.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MEGHAN MARKLE'S FIGHT TO PROTECT SON ARCHIE CONTRIBUTED TO MEGXIT: REPORT
Meghan Markle has endured intense media scrutiny since marrying into the British royal family. (Getty)
MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY 'WERE BULLIED OUT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY,' AUTHOR CLAIMS
“Any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging,” Markle said. “And then when you have a newborn, you know. ... and especially as a woman, it’s a lot.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed,” continued Markle while holding back tears. “It’s um… yeah. I guess, also thank you for asking because not many people have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
When Bradby asked if it “would be fair” to say that she’s “not really OK, as in it’s really been a struggle,” Markle responded, “Yes.”
Still, Markle said Harry and their son have helped her get through tough times.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“It’s OK,” she said. “The good thing is that I’ve got my baby and I’ve got my husband and they’re the best.”
PRINCE HARRY WOULD BLOCK ‘THE CROWN’ FROM FOCUSING ON HIS LIFE WITH MEGHAN MARKLE, CLAIMS BIOGRAPHER
In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 file photo Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and Meghan the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry watch a flypast of Royal Air Force aircraft pass over Buckingham Palace in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
FORMER PRINCESS OF LUXEMBOURG TESSY ANTONY WISHES THE SUSSEXES 'ALL THE BEST'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In the documentary, Harry also spoke out against the British tabloids for the “ruthless” treatment Markle has received “over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.”
“Look, part of this job and part of any job, like everybody, means putting on a brave face and turning a cheek to a lot of the stuff,” he explained. “But again, for me and my wife, of course, there’s a lot of stuff that hurts — especially when the majority of it is untrue.
“All we need to do is focus on being real, focus on being the people we are and standing up for what we believe in,” said Harry. “I will not be bullied into carrying a game that killed my mom.”