Harry and Meghan 'shocked' by Queen's decision to strip them of youth ambassador title after Megxit
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly "shocked" that they would be losing their youth ambassador roles to the Commonwealth as part of their negotiations to complete Megxit, it has been claimed.
The couple had left the royal family reeling when they announced earlier this month that, "After many months of reflection and internal discussions," they had chosen to "make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution."
They said they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family and wanted to work to become financially independent but hoped to "honor our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages."
What followed were negotiations with the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William where they agreed to give up their titles of His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness and to repay some $3.1 million of taxpayers' money that was spent renovating their home — Frogmore Cottage.
However, TMZ reports that they did not expect to give up their roles as youth ambassadors to the Commonwealth and were "shocked" at having to do so. They did not think the ambassadorships would be even a part of the negotiations, it has been claimed.
The Commonwealth is a group of 53 nations, including Canada, where both Harry and Meghan were tasked with empowering young people to tackle the problems that commonly plagued their generation.
Meghan had joined Harry as a youth ambassador just before their April 2018 wedding, where she even had the flowers of all 53 Commonwealth nations embroidered on her wedding gown.
They were seemingly very proud of those roles as well, and at the time of writing, they still have an entire section on their website that talks up the work they did as youth ambassadors.
Despite the controversy surrounding the decision and the intense media scrutiny, the Queen had some warm words for them after Megxit had been finalized.
"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," she had said. "Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved members of my family."
"I recognize 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 I 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," she had said.