Prince Harry’s accent suggests he wants to be viewed as a ‘normal person’ (Image: Getty)
‘s American twang has been decoded by an expert after royal fans noticed changes to his British accent.
The Duke of Sussex used US slang terms including “screw it” and “dude” during a recent skit of the royal from American musician, Jelly Roll.
Harry appeared in the clip to promote the , but sparked a frenzy among .
Speech and accent expert Dr Laura Bailey said the changes could be linked to Harry’s “desire” to feel more like a “normal person”.
Dr Bailey, who lectures at the University of Kent, said his sound changes are mostly a “relaxing” of King’s English into something closer to the accent of middle class people from the south of England.
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Prince Harry used US slang in the video with Jelly Roll (Image: Invictus Games via PA Images)
Jelly Roll will be the first headliner at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games (Image: Invictus Games via PA Images)
She told : “This will be partly because he’s not hanging out with other posh people any more – so it’s not reinforced all the time by hearing it – and partly in order not to stand out so much.”
The expert added the change was also in part perhaps a “conscious identity shift” now Harry is not carrying out official royal duties.
Dr Bailey said a person can also change their accent in a bid to fit in with new friends, a different class or group or to be more like their wife.
Harry’s changing accent won plaudits from fans on social media, with one X user writing on the platform: “I love him. The people’s prince. And he totally has an American accent now.”
A second wrote: “The California accent is very, very easy to pick up because you hear it on American television all the time. I’m not surprised it’s breaking that British accent from him.”
Another commented: “American slang, a bit of the accent. I love it!”
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, have lived in North America since 2020 (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry uses the words ‘dude’ and ‘screw it’ in the video with Jelly Roll (Image: Getty)
Harry has lived in the US with since June 2020. The couple no longer have an official residence in the UK after they were , Frogmore Cottage, in early 2023.
In April, paperwork filed by a travel company Harry controls confirmed .
That revelation highlighted Harry’s increasing estrangement from Britain, which he has visited only a few times this year, although he has been tipped to make the trip more often.
Daily Mail Editor at Large Charlotte Griffiths told GB News earlier this month that she wouldn’t be surprised if by himself.
Ms Griffiths said: “I do think Harry is going to come over to the UK more and more. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he came over at Christmas, but he will be coming on his own.”