In a revealingly candid interview with journalist, Angela Levin, Prince Harry opened up about the choices he made in his youth and the moment when he faced a turning point in his life - one of many choices that would bring him to the man he is today.
As the younger son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, he grew up under constant scruitany by the media and within the strict social confines of his Royal obligations. Within the last year, Harry has revealed the truly profound effect his mother's death had on him - the implications of which rippled forward into his teenage and young adult life.
Living life as a Royal is somewhat like living in a glass house - everything, even your most private moments are available for public scruitny and dissection.
He explains that he felt directionless and yearned to escape the pomp and pagentry of Royal life: ""˜I spent many years kicking my heels and I didn't want to grow up," he told the Daily Mail.
"I felt I wanted out, but then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself," he said.
One thing kept him from quitting though...
After years of playing the 'bad boy,' Harry found his escape from Royal life when he joined the Army and served two tours of Afghanistan before he was forced to leave in 2008. He likely would have continued his service, if it weren't for his location being leaked to the media.
"I felt very resentful," he told the Daily Mail. "˜Being in the Army was the best escape I've ever had. I felt as though I was really achieving something.
"I have a deep understanding of all sorts of people from different backgrounds and felt I was part of a team." While in the Army, "I wasn't a Prince, I was just Harry".
Now back in society as a Royal, Harry needed to create a role for himself and with Prince William's encouragement, he did.
As for the monarchy, Harry revealed that although no one actually wants to be King or Queen, they do it for the good of the people.
"We want to make sure the Monarchy lasts and are passionate about what it stands for," he said. "But it can't go on as it has done under the Queen. There will be changes and pressure to get them right."
[h/t Daily Mail / CBS News]