Prince Harry once made predictions about the future of the Firm and worried his family would be seen as "just a bunch of celebrities", it's been revealed.
Candid comments unearthed from a 2017 interview appeared to hint that the Prince was already having doubts about his future as a royal, and that the monarchy would need to change following his grandmother's death.
He revealed how he was struggling to find meaning in his role, with remarks that set the tone for his decision to break off from the family in 2020.
The Duke's comments were made in a Mail on Sunday interview in June 2017 - around a year after meeting Meghan Markle and just months before the Palace announced their engagement.
He added: "I am determined to have a relatively normal life and if I am lucky enough to have children they can have one too.
"We don't want to be just a bunch of celebrities, but instead use our role for good."
The 2017 interview was a rare insight into Harry's mind, although the Prince has since gone on to give several since departing the family, including with Oprah Winfrey, late show host Stephen Colbert and ITV's Tom Bradby.
"We want to make sure the monarchy lasts and are passionate about what it stands for," he added.
"We feel that the British public and the whole world needs institutions like this, but it can't go on as it has done under the Queen.
"There will be changes and pressure to get them right.
"Things are moving so fast, especially because of social media, so we are involved in modernising the monarchy."
Changes have already been afoot signalling King Charles is trying to slim down the monarchy and make the family more relevant to the general public.
The monarch swapped out hundreds of distant relatives and politicians for the Coronation guest list to invite Brits who had won a British Empire Medal.
The Prince hinted at the time of desires to make the monarchy more relevant, saying: "We are not doing this for ourselves but for the greater good of the people and the monarchy we represent.
"There is so much negative in the world – we as a family try to bring something positive."
The then-32-year-old likened his life at that time to being in a "goldfish bowl", sharing an honest revelation he'd previously come close to a breakdown.
He also reflected on his childhood and young adulthood, losing his mother Princess Diana at the raw age of 12.
He claimed joining the Army in 2006 levelled out his persona as a "bad boy" while at Eton, describing his resent after his career move was leaked to a magazine days after.
"I felt very resentful," he recalled.
"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.... I also wasn't a prince; I was just Harry."
But while yearning for an ordinary life, the interview at the time fell short on going so far as saying he wanted to opt out of royal life completely, as he described his loyalty to the late-Queen.
The comments were unearthed as the Prince came unattended to his father's Coronation earlier this month while Meghan stayed at their home in Montecito, California, before he left immediately after the Westminster Abbey ceremony.
