Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, have informed Queen Elizabeth that they will not be returning to their royal roles at Buckingham Palace. The queen announced the news on Friday, saying that the royal family was deeply saddened by the couple’s decision.
As such, the patronage and honorary military appointments afforded to them will be revoked and reallocated among the remaining members of the royal family. According to the statement from Buckingham Palace, the Queen has “written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the Royal Family, it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.”
Senior Royals Leave Palace Life Behind
The two senior royals left the palace in January 2020, giving up the life of royalty to move to North America. This is exceedingly rare for a senior member of the royal family, as any member of the family could essentially live their entire lives in England and never want for anything. The decision to leave came after Meghan, Harry’s wife, was the subject of consistent, racist harassment at the hands of the UK press.
Despite rumors that the queen is furious with them for stepping down from official roles, the statement regarding their recent decision to not return to the palace attempts to smooth things over, at least publicly. “While all are saddened by their decision, the Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family,” the statement reads.
What’s Next for the No-Longer-Royal Couple?
Harry and Meghan have issued statements through spokespersons that they plan to continue donating to charity and working in roles to make the world a better place. A statement issued through a spokesperson on Friday insists that they “remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world” and have “offered their continued support to the organisations (sic) they have represented regardless of official role.”
The couple recently announced that they are now expecting their second child. In addition to this, each will also be pursuing their own limelight through various media projects. Notably, they plan to have an interview with legendary TV host Oprah Winfrey sometime soon, which will mark their first televised interview since their decision to step down from their royal roles.
Suffice it to say, the couple is likely to do just fine, financially, even without the royal purse strings at their disposal.
