Harry, Meghan give up royal titles

London, January 19

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have signed up to a formal exit deal from the royal family, which will see them forsake their His and Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles and will no longer receive UK taxpayers’ funding for their duties.

Queen Elizabeth II said the agreement followed months of discussions and was a “constructive and supportive” way forward for her grandson and his family.

“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family,” the 93-year-old monarch’s personal statement read.

“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,” she says, thanking the couple for their work for UK and across the Commonwealth.

In a special message for Markle, she said: “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”.

The palace confirmed that the couple was required to withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments. “While they can no longer formally represent the Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty,” the palace said.

It added that the pair would continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. The couple intends to repay 2.4 million pounds of UK taxpayer money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home as they split their time between Britain and Canada.

The palace has declined to comment on security arrangements and who would foot that bill for the couple in future, an issue that has been at the centre of much of the debate since they announced their decision to step back as senior royals earlier this month.

Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, issued their own update on their official Sussex Royal website. “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,” the statement on their website reads. — PTI

What’s in store post ‘Hard Megxit’

• What is being dubbed as a “hard Megxit”, the couple is required to withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments. The couple will also lose their relatively new roles as Youth Ambassadors of the Commonwealth
• The couple intends to repay 2.4 million pounds of UK taxpayer money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home
• There are still some question marks over the couple’s future status, including what their tax and immigration status will be in the UK and Canada

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