Queen Elizabeth II officially blesses Harry and Meghan's royal exit
They'll still be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but Harry and Meghan got what they wanted: They're free.
Queen Elizabeth II delivered formal confirmation that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be permitted to follow through on their plans to step back from their roles as British royals. The Saturday statement asserts that the couple, along with their son Archie, will remain "much loved members of my family."
"I recognise 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," the statement continues. It doesn't get into specifics beyond that, but the mention of "challenges" and "intense scrutiny" is likely a veiled reference to what some have described as the "structural racism" the royal couple has faced.
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The statement generally strikes a positive note, staying away from any direct references to controversy. Instead, the Queen's words favor inclusive language that reaffirms Markle's place as a loved member of the family.
The statement concludes with a note that these changes will go into effect "in the Spring of 2020."
"I want to thank [Harry and Meghan] for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family," the note continues. "It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life."
A separate but complementary statement attributed to Buckingham Palace lays out the separation in more specifics. It confirms that Harry and Meghan will "step back from Royal duties, including military appointments [and]...will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties."
The couple will also pay back the UK government for work that was done on Frogmore Cottage, apparently at their own request. Reports put that figure at £2.4 million. Moving forward, Frogmore Cottage "will remain their UK family home."
The couple will also be allowed to hang onto their "private patronages and associations." And although they'll relinquish their use of the His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) title, the statement makes clear that both have committed to "continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty."
Topics Celebrities
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
