close
Thursday March 28, 2024

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle to step back as 'senior' royals

'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,' they said in a statement

By Web Desk
January 09, 2020

LONDON: In a shock statement, Britain´s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan  Markle on Wednesday said they will step back as senior members of the royal family and work to become financially independent.

In their unexpected statement on Wednesday, also posted on their Instagram page, Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they made the decision "after many months of reflection and internal discussions".

The royal couple also said that they plan to split their time between the UK and North America.

The surprise news follows a turbulent year for the monarchy, with signs that the couple have increasingly struggled with the pressures of royal life.

"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," they said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace.

"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," they added.

"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America."


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent Christmas in Canada after speaking of the pressure of being in the spotlight following their fairytale wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018 and son Archie´s birth in May.

They had previously announced they would miss Christmas with Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family, choosing to spend it instead with the duchess´ mother, Doria Ragland.

Harry, who is sixth in line to the throne, was reported to have saidthat he and his brother Prince William were on "different paths" and admitted tension in their relationship.

"We don´t see each other as much as we used to because we are so busy but I love him dearly," he said in an ITV television interview.

The royal couple  said they will continue to support Queen Elizabeth and honour their duties to her, the Commonwealth and their patronages, indicating they are not fully quitting.

They were going to launch a new charitable entity, and spend much of their time in North America.

Harry and Meghan were among the most senior members of the royal family and were expected to take a much bigger role as Queen Elizabeth scales back her duties and Charles eventually becomes king.