CelebrityLeadershipLifeViral Stories Prince Harry and Meghan to step back as senior royals by Bella Monroe January 9, 2020 written by Bella Monroe January 9, 2020 0 comments 22 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they will step back as “senior” royals and work to become financially independent. In a statement, Prince Harry and Meghan also said they plan to split their time between the UK and North America. The BBC understands no other royal – including the Queen or Prince William – was consulted before the statement and Buckingham Palace is “disappointed”. Senior royals are understood to be “hurt” by the announcement. Last October, Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight. In their unexpected statement on Wednesday, also posted on their Instagram page, the couple said they made the decision “after many months of reflection and internal discussions”. “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.” They said they plan to balance their time between the UK and North America while “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.” ‘Major rift’ BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said the fact palace officials said they were “disappointed” is “pretty strong”. “I think it indicates a real strength of feeling in the palace tonight – maybe not so much about what has been done but about how it has been done – and the lack of consultation I think will sting. “This is clearly a major rift between Harry and Meghan on one part, and the rest of the Royal Family on the other.” A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said discussions with the duke and duchess on their decision to step back were “at an early stage”, adding: “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.” Over Christmas, the couple took a six-week break from royal duties to spend some time in Canada with their son, Archie, who was born in May. After returning to the UK on Tuesday, Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, visited Canada’s High Commission in London to thank the country for hosting them and said the warmth and hospitality they received was “unbelievable”. Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Bella Monroe Bella Monroe is an entertainment reporter with exclusive interviews with Hollywood's biggest stars. She covers the latest in music, film, and viral internet trends. Sam graduated with a degree in Journalism from NYU and has been featured in top entertainment outlets. previous post Bushfires rage out of control across southeast Australia next post Ukrainian Plane Crash In Iran: Here’s What The Available Evidence Shows You may also like Paranormal Investigator’s Fatal Encounter with Purportedly Haunted Annabelle... July 17, 2025 Perplexed Woman Seeks Clarification on the Definition of... July 17, 2025 OnlyFans Model Bonnie Blue Receives Surprising Feedback from... July 17, 2025 McGregor Embroiled in Controversy Following Viral Image and... July 16, 2025 Kang Seo Ha: Korean Actress Dies at 31... July 16, 2025 Neil Patrick Harris Declines Knowledge of Biological Parentage... July 16, 2025 Mother of 22 Aims to Expand Large Family... July 14, 2025 Liverpool Forward Diogo Jota Tragically Killed in Spanish... July 3, 2025 92-Year-Old Convicted of 1967 Bristol Woman’s Murder and... July 3, 2025 Tammy Slaton, ‘1000-lb Sisters’ Star, Reveals Engagement to... July 2, 2025
