Prince Harry ‘deeply saddened’ at royal family break, said there was ‘no other option’

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The ceremony's page boys and bridesmaids, including Prince George and Princess Charlotee of Cambridge arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
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Prince Harry (L) and Meghan Markle (R) kiss as they exit St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their royal wedding ceremony, in Windsor, Britain on May 19, 2018. The couple have been bestowed the royal titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex on them by the British monarch.
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Meghan Markle (R) and her mother, Doria Ragland, eagerly wave to the crowd as they arrive for Markle's wedding ceremony to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
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The Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn take their seats inside the Chapel ahead of the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018.
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex removes the veil of his wife-to-be Meghan Markle at the altar together as the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (C) looks on in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
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Meghan Markle stops for photographers as she arrives for her wedding ceremony to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018. The newly appointed Duchess of Sussex wore a Givenchy gown and the Order of Splendor tiara.
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Meghan Markle arrives for her wedding ceremony to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018. The newly appointed Duchess of Sussex wore a Givenchy gown and the Order of Splendor tiara.
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The Duke of Sussex makes a speech as Sentebale held an event on January 19, 2020, hosted by The Caring Foundation, to raise funds for Sentebale's vital work supporting young people affected by HIV in southern Africa, in London, United Kingdom.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, here with her daughter Princess Charlotte, smiles as she arrives for the wedding ceremony of her brother-in-law Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and her future sister-in-law Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018.
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Guests gather inside the grounds of Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and US actress Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018.
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales walks his future daughter-in-law Meghan Markle down the aisle of St George's Chapel during her wedding to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (2nd L).
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TOPSHOT - Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex begin their carriage procession in the Ascot Landau Carriage after their wedding ceremony at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / ANDREW MILLIGANANDREW MILLIGAN/AFP/Getty Images
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Newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, head out of the High Altar in St George's Chapel to greet the public after exchanging vows on their wedding day.
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Prince Charles, father of the groom, and Doria Ragland, mother of the bride, depart Windsor Castle after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.
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Harry and Meghan also posed with the page boys and flower girls of the ceremony, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
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A member of staff holds an order of service inside the grounds of Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding and carriage procession of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle in Windsor on May 19, 2018.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their wedding service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018.
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Bridesmaids and page boys dutifully perform their roles during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on May 19, 2018.
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Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (l.) adorably waves to the crowd while holding her mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's hand during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on May 19, 2018.
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his fiancee Meghan Markle are all smiles as they exchange vows during their wedding ceremony in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
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It was a Royal Family affair. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were all smiles as they posed alongside Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Doria Ragland; Prince William; Prince Philip; Queen Elizabeth II; Kate, Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte and Prince George for the official wedding photo on May 19, 2018.
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Members of the Irish Guards Regimental Band march along the High Street ahead of the wedding and carriage procession of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle in Windsor, on May 19, 2018.
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Meghan Markle (C) walks down the aisle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018 during her wedding to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
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Meghan Markle has her train carried by her page boys as she arrives for her wedding ceremony to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
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Armed British police officers hold their weapons as they secure the procession route outside of Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding and carriage procession of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle.
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Queen Elizabeth II arrives for her grandson Prince Harry's wedding actress Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018.
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The newlyweds rode through the town of Windsor while locals waved and gave their well wishes.
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The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, leave Windsor Castle in a convertible car after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince William, on May 19, 2018.
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Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex emerge from the West Door of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018 after their wedding ceremony.
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Britain's Prince Harry and best man Prince William arrive for the wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018.
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Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, are greeted by the public as they are driven along the Long Walk to her wedding ceremony to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018.
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Newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now known as Their Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, wave to the crowds in Windsor, England following their wedding ceremony on May 19, 2018.
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Page boys John and Brian Mulroney accompany Meghan Markle as she arrives in a car for her wedding to marry Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
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The two looked picture perfect as they posed for the images, with Markle stunning in her Givenchy wedding dress and Harry looking dapper in his Blues and Royals frock coat uniform.
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Guests arrive inside the Chapel ahead of the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the alter of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England on their wedding day on May 19, 2018. The newly weds, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said their "I do"'s in front of a room full of family and friends.

By Theresa Braine | tbraine@nydailynews.com | New York Daily News

PUBLISHED: January 19, 2020 at 6:32 p.m. | UPDATED: January 20, 2020 at 4:08 a.m.

Britain’s Prince Harry told attendees at a charity event Sunday that his break with the royal family deeply saddened him, but that he and wife Meghan Markle felt they had no other option.

“Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations without public funding,” said Harry to an audience at a charity lunch, according to Reuters. “Sadly, that wasn’t possible.”

He said he did not do so lightly, and that the drastic outcome should point to the lack of options the couple had had when they announced abruptly earlier this month that they would step back from their roles as senior royals and pursue an “independent life.”

“I’ve accepted this knowing it doesn’t change who I am, or how committed I am,” he said, according to Reuters. “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.”