The Sussex Royal fairytale has never followed the traditional path.
Meghan walked herself down the aisle on their wedding day. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was christened away from public eyes with not a royal title in sight. And then it was a six-week hiatus/break/escape to Canada away from royal duties and the royal family.
And now, the couple has been officially given the approval to step away from royal life with the blessing of the Queen.
What do we know about MEGXIT?
- The couple will no longer be referred to as His or Her Royal Highness. They will be referred to as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Prince Harry with keeping his Prince title
- Prince Harry will remain sixth in line to the British Throne
- They will repay the 2.4 million pounds of taxpayers money they used to renovate Frogmore Cottage, the home gifted to them by the Queen
- There will be no more royal duties for the couple from Spring 2020
- They will officially move to Canada and set up a new home there while they have pledged to ‘uphold the Queen’s values’. They will now spend most of their time in North America.
- Prince Harry will give up his military patronages, this includes Captain-General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving. He has also given up his role as the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
- Prince Harry will remain president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, and Meghan will still be the Trust’s vice-president.
- The couple will keep their royal patronages as private patronages and associations
- The Sussexes original request of earning their own money and continuing to work as members of the Royal family was declined by the Queen
- There will be no income given to the couple from public funds as they will no longer be carrying out royal duties
There has been no comment made by the Queen or Buckingham Palace as to who will cover the security bill for the couple and their son.
In her statement, the Queen said: ‘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. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved members of my 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 peaceful new life.
A statement from Buckingham Palace read: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.
‘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. With the Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.
‘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 Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.
‘Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security. This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020.’
