LONDON: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have walked away from the monarchy after they had to choose between personal freedom and royal duty.
Harry and Meghan had wanted to remain as working royals, although not prominent members, and become financially independent — a dual role many commentators said was fraught with problems.
But in a statement issued after royal family talks concluded, the Sussexes announced they will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring, no longer use HRH and will repay the taxpayers’ millions spent on their Berkshire home. Harry and Meghan said in their statement, issued on their behalf by Buckingham Palace, that under the agreement they understood they were “required” to step back from royal duties.
Earning money from lucrative contracts and still remaining active members of the monarchy would have been problematic, and has caused issues for royals who have tried to straddle the two positions in the past.
The deal is a hard “Megxit” for the couple — as the issue has been dubbed by the media — and a source told PA news agency “you can’t be half in and half out”.
The announcement marks the conclusion of talks about their future with senior members of the family and royal aides.
The Queen issued an emotional statement, saying she recognised the “challenges” they had faced over the past year, and added: “I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.
“It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
The couple’s spokeswoman issued a statement on their behalf saying: “As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for royal duties.”
Meghan’s father Thomas Markle said the decision to split from the royal family was “disappointing” and “embarrassing”. Meghan and Harry have already begun a transition phase of living in Canada and the UK. The duchess is in the Commonwealth country with son Archie where the Sussexes spent six weeks over the festive period.
The move was agreed by the Queen, Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge following the Sussexes unprecedented statement released earlier this month saying they wanted to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and live in the UK and North America. It is understood the couple will now spend the majority of their time in Canada, with Harry expected to join his wife sometime this week.