Queen Elizabeth speaks out on Meghan, Harry's royal split: 'These are complex matters'
Queen Elizabeth has spoken out about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's future for the first time since the couple announced last week that they're resigning as "senior royals."
On Monday, Her Majesty summoned the family to her Sandringham Estate to discuss the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to take a step back from their royal duties and split their time between North America and the United Kingdom. Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Prince William were all reportedly at the meeting, while Meghan conferenced in from Canada after returning to the Commonwealth country last week.
"Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family," the queen's statement reads.
The statement continued:
"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.
Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.
These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days."
Buckingham Palace issued a statement last week after the news broke, saying:
"We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through."
The news comes just hours after Prince Harry and Prince William released a rare, joint statement on the rumors, slamming a report that claims William's "bullying attitude" was behind the royal rift.
