Prince Harry (opens in new tab) knew the impact that his and Meghan Markle's sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey (opens in new tab) would have on the royal family, a royal expert has said.

In a new interview with Page Six (opens in new tab), royal biographer and expert Ingrid Sward (opens in new tab) says that Harry knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he agreed to Oprah's interview (opens in new tab) - and he knew exactly what he was getting himself into. And there is no reason to think he had second thoughts about that decision, she says.

"He knew what he was getting himself into. 'I can swear to that. I don't understand the reason for it, but he wanted to. He wasn't surprised by the repercussions, and I don't think he regrets it one bit."

Sward, who is also editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine (open in new tab), also spoke about Meghan's struggle to adjust to life in the royal family (open in new tab).

"She always had a voice, but I don't think she understood that she couldn't have a voice as a royal duchess," Sward explained, speculating that perhaps Harry "didn't explain to her the normal things about being a royal. That it is not about you, that it is about the monarchy and that you are not a celebrity".

Seward said he predicted early on that Meghan would have a hard time adjusting to royal life as an American (open in new tab).

"I don't think she thought she would ever be able to say what she thought or express her opinions," Sward explained. 'It was something she had been used to all her life, and all of a sudden she was put in a straitjacket.'