The Duke of Sussex spoken out about unconscious racial bias - and how little he understood until he "lived" in his wife Meghan's shoes.

Prince Harry has admitted his privileged upbringing as a member of the royal family meant he had no real understanding of unconscious racial bias during a conversation with Black Lives Matter supporter Patrick Hutchinson.

Mr Hutchinson rose to fame after he was photographed carrying an injured white man to safety during a violent far-right rally, for which he was repeatedly praised by Harry.

Harry, in praise of Mr Hutchinson’s actions, said: “I think you are a shining example of how every single human being should operate and work and function.

“Even at a time when you have two groups that are at each other on such a visceral level, all that aside, no red mist in you, you just came in, you did what was necessary and you saved a life.”

The two men were speaking at the launch of British GQ’s Heroes Festival, the men’s magazine’s annual summit of ideas, culture and thought leadership.

Harry said: “No-one’s pointing the fingers. You can’t really point fingers, especially when it comes to unconscious bias.

“But once you realise or you feel a little bit uncomfortable, then the onus is on you to go out and educate yourself because ignorance is no longer an excuse.

“And unconscious bias, from my understanding, having the upbringing and the education that I had, I had no idea what it was. I had no idea it existed.

“And then, sad as it is to say, it took me many, many years to realise it, especially then living a day or a week in my wife’s shoes.”

In an interview and accompanying article in the Evening Standard to mark Black History Month, the duke and duchess said there was a lost generation of “people of colour” whose contribution to UK society will remain “untapped” as long as structural racism exists.

Harry and Mr Hutchinson were brought together by GQ as part of its content to support Black History Month and the duke urged people of all backgrounds to get involved in racial issues.

He said: “This is a global movement. The train has left the station. If you’re not on it now then get on it because there’s so much that we can do.

“And, being a dad myself, the whole point in life, I guess, for me, is to try to leave the world in a better place than when you found it.”

Harry and Meghan began a new life in America with son Archie, just before the lockdown. Toby Melville/PA Wire

Harry and Meghan began a new life in California just a few weeks before the coronavirus lockdown started in March, and they have been adjusting to life outside the royal family with their toddler son Archie.

During the conversation with the duke, Mr Hutchinson said keeping fit had kept him “mentally sharp” during lockdown, and Harry highlighted that many will be struggling.

“Because, for so many people, but men especially, I guess, everyone’s been suffering from some form of isolation over the last eight, nine months,” he said.

“But for men who are isolated by themselves this can be a really dark place, unless you know the different solutions or different distractions that you can put into your life, whether it’s going for a great walk or a run or just doing something that keeps you mentally and physically fit.”