Prince Harry‘s close friend JJ Chalmers says the Duke of Sussex made thebombshell decisionto step back as a senior member of the royal family in order to “protect his family.”
Chalmers, who met Harry, 35, while they were both serving in the military, defended Harry and his wifeMeghan Markle‘s royal exit during an appearance on the UK showThe One Showon Friday.
“He’s less the captain in the army I knew, and he’s more a father that’s the first thing I ask him about,” Chalmers, 33, said.
“And I think the decision that he has made, at the forefront of that is to protect his family, because that’s the number one rule is to be a father and to be a husband,” Chalmers said.
Chalmers went on to explain that he believes this is the reason behind the bombshell decision.
“I would say so, any husband wants to protect their wife and any father wants to protect their children,” Chalmers aid.
Chalmers also shared that Harry wants to set a good example for his and Meghan’s son 8-month-oldArchie.
“And ultimately he grew up in the limelight and knows how it will end if this isn’t handled correctly,” Chalmers added, in reference to Harry’s motherPrincess Diana‘s 1997 death. Diana was killed in a car crash while trying to escape the paparazzi.
Prince Harry with JJ Chalmers.Chris Jackson - WPA Pool /Getty
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE‘s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
Chalmers isn’t the only one of Meghan and Harry’s friends to speak out about their decision.
Prince Harry, JJ Chalmers.
“Many people will ask why of course,” he continued. “So much privilege, so much power, so much good being done. Why leave it all behind?”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty
Meghan and Harry detailed theircurrent financial situationin a Q&A on their Sussex Royal website, explaining that they will “no longer receive funding through the Sovereign Grant,” though, there are still many questions surrounding how the couple plans to make a living and how they will finance it.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Trish Regan, host ofTrish Regan Primetimeon Fox Business, elaborated on Meghan and Harry’s individual net worths and how the pair will most likely earn their own income to become “financially independent” in their new life.
“The possibilities right now are endless for them. They need to think about what it is that they like, what they identify with and whether there’s a market for that,” Regan, 47, told PEOPLE. “Obvious things might include a book deal if they can really provide insight into what life is like as a royal. I think there’s a lot of Americans and people throughout the world that would be very interested in that, so that would be a value. Another obvious thing might be something like a talk show.”
source: people.com
