Comedian Katherine Ryan has spoken candidly about meeting Prince Harry, describing him as "so charming [and] so handsome in real life" and admitting her long-standing crush on him "lives on for sure."
The Duke of Sussex recently moved back to the UK with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, following six years in America. He has since attended numerous events, including the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards and WellChild Awards, while Meghan has kept a lower profile.
Harry recognised her from her jokes
Discussing her encounter with Prince Harry from several years ago, the Canadian comedian disclosed that he was aware of her identity from the jokes she had previously made about him, which she once acknowledged caused her some anxiety.
The 43-year-old told Woman Magazine: "He was very cool and relaxed about that. He said, 'You're the one who tells jokes about me.' Meghan wasn't there.
"I think one of the babies was quite young, so Harry had flown over at that time. I also think it might have been when his dad [King Charles] was maybe facing some difficult moments, and he flew over for like 24 hours," Katherine added.
'The crush lives on'
When the publication observed that it was "a big coup" that Harry recognised her, the comedian responded: "He might have been briefed on the way in. You know how they have someone, like what a wife does with her husband at a family function. She'll say, 'That's Auntie Christine.' Who knows? But the crush lives on for sure."
Previously speaking on her Telling Everybody Everything podcast, she revealed she apologised to Harry when he referenced her jokes, but maintained he urged her to continue making them.
Discussing his appearance, she went on to say: "His presence was so striking, seeing him up close. Prince Harry in the flesh, looks exactly, but taller, like the image of Prince Harry you have in his hand. He's in HD, and the photos of him look like the real him.
"He has a lovely peaceful presence. He's so dutiful and beautiful," she added. "He went all around the room, very confidently."
Husband 'very comfortable'
In an interview with the Daily Star, Katherine joked that her husband isn't bothered by her admiration for Harry.
"My husband's very comfortable with how much I admit I love Prince Harry, but he also knows that I'm not as in love with him as it seems," she explained.
"He doesn't have to be worried in a room with me or anything. I like to think I speak for the women of the UK, I have to say."
Prince Harry and his family are believed to be residing in the Cotswolds. The couple were seen entering a pub in Oxfordshire last week, walking hand-in-hand. A pub insider reported that the pair received no special treatment from staff or fellow customers, telling The Sun: "Everyone here gets the royal treatment — it doesn’t matter who you are. We’re lucky to get lots of different people visiting us, and everyone is treated like a local. When they visited, Harry and Meghan just acted like locals."
