Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have announced that they have decided to step back from their roles as senior royals.
Prince Harry and Meghan issued a statement saying they plan to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and become financially independent. It has been reported that the royal couple did not consult any senior royal before making the statement.
In their statement, 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," it continued.
They plan to spend their time "between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages."
They say that this would enable them to raise their son, Archie, with "an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born" while allowing them to "focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity."
The Sussex Royal charity, which the couple set up after separating from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's foundation in June 2019. It is expected to be global in scope, with links to Africa and the US.
It is speculated that the royal couple referred to North America in their statement because they will not only spend time in the US, particularly in California where Meghan's mother lived, but also in Canada, where she spent seven years for the TV series Suits.
In response to the statement, the Buckingham Palace 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."
