Are Harry and Meghan making the right decision?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they are stepping back as senior members of the royal family.
But the shock move raises many questions about their future, not least of all whether Harry and Meghan’s attempt to redefine their royal lives is sustainable.
– What did Harry and Meghan’s statement say?
The couple said in a “personal message” they intend to step back as senior members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to support the Queen.
The Sussexes with the Queen (John Stillwell/PA)
– Where will they live?
They said they now plan to balance their time between the UK and North America.
– What about their home Frogmore Cottage in Windsor?
They will continue to base themselves at Frogmore Cottage when in the UK.
Taxpayers paid £2.4 million to renovate Harry and Meghan’s official residence, which the couple moved into just nine months ago.
– Where will they live in North America and will they buy a home there?
This is not yet known. The couple have just spent six weeks in Canada so are expected to base themselves there for part of the year.
– How will they become financially independent?
Their new official website Sussexroyal.com said the couple will no longer receive funding through the Sovereign Grant from the taxpayer for their official office expenses – which it said accounted for 5% of their office costs.
The Prince of Wales currently pays for the remaining cost of their public duties and some of their private costs from his Duchy of Cornwall income.
But it is not clear cut. The Sovereign Grant is also used to pay for Harry and Meghan’s official royal travel, and their website said they “proudly” carry out official overseas visits in support of the Queen, suggesting they will still continue to do so.
Harry and Meghan on their official tour of South Africa (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
– Will they be getting paid jobs?
It looks like it in some form. Sussexroyal.com said the couple “value the ability to earn a professional income, which in the current structure they are prohibited from doing.
“For this reason they have made the choice to become members of the Royal Family with financial independence.”
Harry is a former soldier and Meghan is a former actress but the pair are about to launch their new SussexRoyal foundation.
– Will the British taxpayers still pay for their security?
They seem to think so. Sussexroyal.com, referring to armed security by the Metropolitan Police mandated by the Home Office, said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are classified as internationally protected people which mandates this level of security.”
The Duchess of Sussex is escorted through a market in Suva, Fiji, during an official tour (Ian Vogler/PA)
– But they are no longer senior royals?
Yes this creates a problem. Non-senior royals generally don’t have full-time royal protection officers.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie previously faced criticism over the use of taxpayers’ funding for police protection, but the Duke of York now pays for their security himself.
The undisclosed cost of guarding the royal family as a whole is estimated to be more than £100 million a year.
– What about the cost to the Canadians?
If Harry and Meghan base themselves in Canada – a realm of which the Queen is monarch, it raises the question of whether the Canadians will have to contribute to their security costs as well, or even pay for an official residence.
Harry and Meghan on a visit to Canada House (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)
– Will they lose their HRH titles?
Their statement makes no mention of them losing their HRH titles nor of Harry being removed from the line of succession.
The duke and duchess said they have chosen to “carve out a progressive new role within this institution”.
– Does combining private work with royal duties work?
Having a dual role has proved controversial in the past.
In 2002, the Earl and Countess of Wessex stepped down from their businesses to become full time royals after they were accused of cashing in on their royal status.
Harry’s cousin Zara Tindall earns her own income, but does not carry out royal duties nor live in an official residence.
– What about the Queen and the Prince of Wales?
It is understood that the Queen and the Prince of Wales were not aware of the content of Harry and Meghan’s personal statement before it was issued.
The Queen and Charles were not aware of the content of Harry and Meghan’s statement (Matt Dunham/PA)
The announcement was made just seven weeks after the Queen’s second son Andrew stepped back from royal duties after his disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Buckingham Palace has warned that Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back will be “complicated” and talks are still at an early stage.
– Why did Harry and Meghan take the decision?
The couple spoke of their struggles dealing with royal life and the intense tabloid interest in a television documentary about their Africa tour.
Meghan said: “It’s not enough to just survive something, that’s not the point of life. You have got to thrive.”
What do you think about Harry and Meghan’s announcement that they intend to step back as senior royals? Are they making the right decision? Share your views at Speakers Corner
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We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!
They should have enough money, between them, to live a very good life.
since day one. Feel sorry for Harry - and for HM and the members
of the Royal Family.
Meghan has secured herself a comfortable life -- wonder how
long before she 'breaks free' and Harry is left out in the cold??
I would have had more respect for them if they had just renounced their titles and gone off to earn their own money .As for the arrogance they have shown by saying thatbthey want to modernise the monarchy - words escape me . Well polite ones anyway . What I do dislike is the use of words like idiots snowflake wingers and blaming one person . Could we please go back to having opinions that do not use this kind of inflammatory language . Name calling is not nice and. Retail you not clever . THus is the problem with posting online people say things that perhaps they wouldn't face to face .
DorisT
xx
I also feel sorry for Archie as there was a good opportunity for him to mix with his cousins at Xmas, but they took it away from him and apart from Megan's mother there was no mention of any other family with them. Hopefully he will be able to make friends with the rest of his family including his cousins in his later life. Making him move between two countries at his age is crazy and also very dangerous as they all become targets for terrorists in our current climate.
Megan's application for UK citizenship in jeopardy since she plans to be out of UK so much.
This saga just keeps on rolling.
Personally, I don’t care !
I just feel for the Queen. 3 out 4 children divorced. Now this debacle.
However, I wish all the luck in the world to whoever will have to sort out their forthcoming money problems. But please do not fall back on the taxpayers for foolish settlements.
As far as I am concerned, they can do whatever they please as long as the taxpayer isn't picking up the bill.
This isn't going to end well.
If they do not want to be royal then fine but the country should no longer fund or house them or pay for security. All that goes with the status which they choose to relinquish.
The Queen must be so disappointed.
So many facets of Royal life are veiled from we plebs; we get to know only what their press people deem necessary and often even that is mangled by our red top newspapers. How possible is it to discern truth from sales copy? I don't know.
What does irk me somewhat is the Sussex's lavish spending habits - a million quid on Markle's outfits in less than two years and so much jetting around. Surely Charles who funds them could apply that money to help alleviate the need for so many food banks. And there's a few more things ... quite a few.
Perhaps if the Palace ordered a 'D' notice on all Sussex publicity they would fade back to their rightful place in the royal hierarchy. Or, as many commentators in our newspapers favour, seek pastures new. Now there's a thought ... but the Sussex's got there before me!