Prince Harry, Meghan Markle step down as royal family ‘senior members’, will work to be financially independent
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a statement about taking a step back from the royal family Tuesday. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made an announcement stating they now want to take a step back as "senior members" of the royal family and work to become financially independent.
The official statement from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, according to a report in The Guardian, stated, "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."
Adding further, they said, "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. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment."
The statement also confirmed that the couple will balance their time between North America and the United Kingdom in the future. The royal couple said, "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages," and added, "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."
This statement comes after rumors that the royal couple was moving to Canada. In conclusion, Prince Harry and Markle stated, "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."
After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's announcement, the Royal family responded with a statement through their official Twitter handle. It said, "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through."