Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Give Up Royal Titles, Per Agreement With Queen Elizabeth
Earlier this month, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made headlines when they announced that they would be stepping back as “senior members” of the Royal family in order to gain financial independence. Now, Queen Elizabeth and Buckingham Palace have released formal statements on the matter, supporting the Duke and Duchess’s decision, but noting that they would no longer use their “royal highnesses” titles.
Meghan and Harry’s official Instagram account, @sussexroyal, published the Queen’s statement earlier today.
“Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family,” the statement began, noting that Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be beloved members of the Queen's family. “I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. 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 new peaceful life.”
A more formal statement from Buckingham Palace details the terms of Meghan and Harry’s agreement with Queen Elizabeth. Per BuzzFeed News, the Duke and Duchess plan to step back from all Royal duties, and will no longer receive public funding designated for those aforementioned duties, including official military appointments. Meghan and Harry also intend to repay taxpayers in the UK for the funds previously designated to the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage.
“With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations,” the statement added. “While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty. The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.” The Palace’s statement ended by noting that details of Meghan and Harry’s security arrangements will not be published, and terms of the agreement will go into effect in spring of 2020.
Meghan and Harry’s separation from the Royal family was initiated on January 8 when the couple put out a joint statement on their Instagram to explain their decision. “It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment,” the Duke and Duchess wrote at the time. “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
