By Chantal Da Silva —
NBC News
Prince Harry has conveyed his wish to return to the UK at Queen Elizabeth II's upcoming platinum jubilee so his children can spend time with their great-grandmother, but he may not be able to.
"I do not know yet.
There are a lot of things, with security issues and everything else, ”she said in an exclusive interview with the
Today program.
on NBC News to discuss the fifth edition of the Invictus Games, a sports competition for wounded and ill service members and veterans that he founded.
Harry, 37, said he is "trying to make it possible" to return to the UK with his children, Archie and Lilibet, so they can get to know their native country and spend time with the queen, who turns 96 on Thursday.
Lilibet, who was born in the United States in June, has not met her great-grandmother or other members of the royal family.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle publicly reappear in Europe after resigning from the royal family
April 17, 202200:35
The Duke of Sussex has been locked in a battle with the British government over a decision that prevents him from paying for police protection during his visits to the UK.
Harry has said he wants to take care of it
instead of asking the British to foot the bill, but says he can't do it without the go-ahead from the government.
[Queen Elizabeth II makes her first public appearance in five months to pay tribute to her husband]
Without proper protection
, according to a legal representative for Harry,
it would be too risky for the prince;
his wife, Meghan Markle;
and his children visiting the United Kingdom from Santa Barbara, California, where they currently live.
Harry also recounted how nice it was to spend time with his grandmother earlier this month after he and the Duchess of Sussex met the monarch for tea.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit the Invictus Games athletics event in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Sunday, April 17, 2022.Peter Dejong / AP
That meeting was their first since the couple left active British royalty and moved to the United States in 2020, and the two discussed the pressure they faced in their roles and alleged racist treatment. to Markle by members of the British media.
Harry said in the interview that the queen had appeared in "great shape" after falling ill with COVID-19.
"Being with her, it was great," he said, "it was nice to see her."
[Queen Elizabeth II sends a letter to a girl who dressed up as her on Halloween]
The prince said he had wanted to make sure his grandmother was "protected" and had "the right people around her".
She also praised the queen for her
"great sense of humour"
and said she continued to share a "really special relationship" with her grandmother: "We talk about things she can't talk about with anyone else."
Asked if he has missed his family, he said: "Of course, it's a huge part."
However, he assured that he was focused on the families represented at the Invictus Games.
Harry and Meghan Markle secretly visit Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor
April 15, 202201:52
“That's my focus here.
And when I leave here, I come back and focus on my family, who I miss so much,” he said.
"I've always wanted to be a father"
The prince said he loved everything about being a father, including "the chaos, the learning, the reminder of every element of yourself, of your soul."
“I have always wanted to be a father.
I always wanted to have my own children and now I have two little people that I am responsible for,” she said.
[Prince Harry compares his life to a zoo and explains the three moments when he lost control]
And while it may seem “complicated” at times to have to “restart” life “from a blank canvas,” with his move to the United States, he and his wife are committed to building a future for their family “together as a couple.” forever," he said.
Asked if he ever talks about his mother, Princess Diana, with her son, Archie, now that he's old enough, Harry replied: "A lot."
"I'm not telling you all the things that happened, but it's certainly Grandma Diana, and we have a couple of photos in the house," he said.
Harry said he could still feel his mother's presence, especially in "the last two years, more than ever": "I feel her presence in almost everything I do now."
