Prince Harry joked about life in the Royal Family during a speech on Friday

Prince Harry (Image: Getty)

Prince took a  cheeky swipe at the Royal Family as he addressed business leaders in Los Angeles on Friday. The Duke of Sussex was speaking at the British American Business Council of Los Angeles’ 65th Christmas luncheon when he made the comments, as well as discussing the World Cup, British culture, and American independence.

Joking about his own family, Harry said: “People sometimes ask if growing up with the royal family was a bit like Julian’s Downton Abbey – yeah. But only one of those worlds is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, marriages to Americans and the other is a TV show.”

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On American independence, Harry added: It’s a new world to me, celebrating independence from Britain and more specifically, independence from my great, great, great, great, great great grandfather.

“But look, I don’t take it personally and nor should you, but it does feel oddly reminiscent.

“After all, we were able to leave our mark in other ways, mostly just through originally naming places after towns and cities back home, Boston, Massachusetts, and Lincolnshire, Manchester, New Hampshire and England, Birmingham, Alabama and England, Richmond, Virginia and England.

“I’ve never quite understood why they did that. It surely can’t be because it reminded them of their hometowns.”

However, Harry made no mention of his wife, Meghan Markle, nor her father, Thomas Markle, who is reported to be seriously ill in a hospital in the Philippines.

According to reports, Thomas underwent surgery to have his leg amputated.

Thomas Markle is in hospital (Image: ITV)

A spokesperson for Meghan confirmed that the Duchess “has reached out to her father” amid his health complications.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018 after Thomas colluded with photographers who paid him for photos of him preparing for Harry and Meghan’s wedding.

Thomas did not attend the wedding as a result, although he cited health issues.

Since then, Thomas has criticised Meghan in numerous media appearances.

In one media interview, he said, “I think they’re both turning into lost souls at this point.”

“I don’t know what they’re looking for,” he added. “I don’t think they know what they’re looking for.”