Harry and Meghan to step back as senior royals
Written by News on 08/01/2020
Harry and Meghan have said they intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and become financially independent.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: “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.”
The royals added that they 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”.
Harry and Meghan continued: “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.”
On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had resumed their royal duties after taking a family break in Canada.
Crowds, and dozens of photographers, were out on Trafalgar Square as Prince Harry and Meghan visited Canada House in Central London to meet Janice Charette, High Commissioner in Canada to the UK and staff.
Following the news of Harry and Meghan stepping back as senior royals, Sky News’ royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said it shows “the pressure that they were under” and that Harry is in a “different phase of his life”.
She added that Harry has always had a “difficult relationship with the press since his mother died”, but now he has a wife and son that he wants to protect, he wants to maintain that level of privacy and has “changed the dynamic of what he wants to do as a working royal”.
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(c) Sky News 2020: Harry and Meghan to step back as senior royals
