The Queen Is Reportedly "Disappointed" By Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Bombshell Announcement

Isabel Jones

On Wednesday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry threw a curveball when they announced their intention to “step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family,” move to North America, and become financially independent. I know, it’s a lot to take in, even after the initial sting.

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“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. 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. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.” - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex For more information, please visit sussexroyal.com (link in bio) Image © PA

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Jan 8, 2020 at 10:33am PST

Anyway, it seems their plan may have one small hitch in the form of a 93-year-old royal matriarch …

Soon after the Sussexes’ Instagram announcement reached the masses, Queen Elizabeth’s office released a statement of its own: “Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

BBC Royal Correspondent Jonny Dymond tweeted that Meghan and Harry’s veritable bombshell was as much a surprise to us as it was to the rest of the royal family and that they’re “disappointed.”

Though the whole ordeal feels strangely spontaneous, the Sussex family assured us it was well thought-out with an updated FAQ page on their website, aptly titled “Funding.”

The page in question details why they’ve chosen to sever financial ties, and what exactly that means for a member of the royal family.

Basically, the couple wants to continue to carry out their charity work, but doesn’t want to be restricted from pursuing careers of their own. This transition requires them to opt out of receiving money from the Sovereign Grant, which is the fund that provides payment for their living and work spaces, as well as other expenses. Under the “current structure” neither the Duke nor Duchess of Sussex is able to earn a salary for outside work.

RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Stepping Back As Senior Members of the Royal Family

The Sovereign Grant accounts for about 5 percent of the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The other 95 percent is comprised of income distributed by Prince Charles through the Duchy of Cornwall.

Though they plan to establish a residence in North America, they will maintain Frogmore Cottage and continue to live there when they’re in the U.K.