Prince Harry: No one wants to be king or queen

Prince Harry says no one in the royal family wants to reign, during a candid interview in which he also discussed the trauma of walking behind his mother's coffin at the age of 12.

"Is there any one of the royal family who wants to be king or queen? I don't think so, but we will carry out our duties at the right time," he told US magazine Newsweek.

He added that the younger royals, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, were "involved in modernising the British monarchy.

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"We are not doing this for ourselves," he said, "but for the greater good of the people."

Harry also spoke about his decision to seek professional help to come to terms with his mother's death, with Newsweek saying his voice "hardened" when he spoke about walking behind her coffin "surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television".

He added: "I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today."

In addition, he expressed his desire to maintain a "normal" life doing everyday chores such as shopping, saying: "Even if I was king, I'd do my own shopping."

His comments left the UK media buzzing, with several journalists saying they differed strongly with the Queen' dedication to the throne and country.

Daily Express royal correspondent Richard Palmer tweeted.

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said: "This is an interview that will generate some sympathy - a Prince still struggling with the death of his mother - and raise some eyebrows. Such a reaction will be prompted by Harry's suggestion that the Windsors aren't exactly falling over each other to fill what his mother once called 'the top job', when it becomes vacant."