Prince Harry has revealed a long-standing royal restriction that prevented him from ever casting a vote in an election. Speaking at the Upfront Summit in Los Angeles, the Duke of Sussex admitted that, as a member of the British royal family, he was never allowed to participate in elections—a rule he now finds particularly striking since moving to the U.S.
“I’m not one to be caught in the divide between left or right views, not cornered by a belief in blue or red,” Harry said. “Hell, I’ve never even been allowed to vote.” His remarks came during a discussion about investment in a shared future and bridging societal divisions.
While it is not technically illegal for British royal family member to vote, they traditionally abstain to maintain neutrality.
Sky News’ Alistair Bruce explained that members of the royal family—aside from the reigning monarch—can vote, but choose not to in order to protect their apolitical stance.
“Traditionally, they do not. This is principally to protect the apolitical nature of their support to the monarch,” Bruce noted.
Historically, male royals were also barred from voting due to their ability to sit as peers in the House of Lords. Although the 1999 House of Lords Act ended their right to sit in Parliament, the tradition of royals not voting has remained unchanged.
During his speech, Prince Harry also reflected on the stark differences between his life in Britain and his current reality in the U.S. “The way that I answer the question of how we invest in our shared future is different now living in the U.S., to when I was living in the U.K.,” he said. “Why? Because before I moved, so much of my life revolved around charity.”
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry has shifted his focus to what he calls “long-term solutions” rather than just traditional charitable work. He highlighted his commitment to investing in digital safety, mental health initiatives, and education.
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Despite no longer being a working royal, Harry remains dedicated to service. He spoke passionately about his work with the Invictus Games Foundation, which helps wounded veterans, and the Archewell Foundation, which he runs alongside Meghan Markle.
“Since then, while my charities remain a core part of my life’s work, I’ve also been focusing on upstream solutions and prevention, driven by decisions and investments that address problems before they require fixing,” he explained.
Harry emphasized that his efforts—from supporting veterans through Invictus to pushing for digital safety reforms—are all part of a broader mission to protect and uplift communities.
With his newfound freedom in the U.S., many speculate whether Harry will take advantage of his right to vote in future American elections.
While he has not explicitly stated his intentions, his recent comments suggest he is more engaged in political and social discourse than ever before.
For now, Prince Harry remains focused on his humanitarian efforts, proving that while he may have left royal life behind, his commitment to public service remains as strong as ever.
