Prince Harry and wife Meghan to 'step back' from senior royal roles

By David Milliken

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive to greet members of the public in Kingfisher Bay on Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia October 22, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble - RC16F6D4E930

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, said on Wednesday that he and his wife Meghan planned to step back from their roles as senior members of Britain's royal family and spend more time in North America.

 

Harry, sixth in line to the British throne, and Meghan, an American former actress, said they hoped to become financially independent and set up a charity, while continuing some royal duties.

 

"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages," the couple said in a statement on Instagram.

 

Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying discussions with Harry and Meghan over their future role were 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," the palace said. "Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage."

 

The couple married in May 2018 in a lavish ceremony in Windsor Castle, west of London, and last year Meghan gave birth to their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, who did not receive a royal title.

 

Splitting time between Britain and North America "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", Harry and Meghan said.

 

Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, have struggled to deal with the intense attention from parts of the British and international media, and the couple recently took a six-week break from their official duties.

 

In 2016, before they were married, Harry issued a statement criticising the media for intruding into Meghan's private life, saying the press had subjected her to "a wave of abuse and harassment".

 

Last October, Meghan started legal proceedings against the Mail on Sunday newspaper over the publication of a private letter.

 

Harry described the treatment of his wife as "bullying", likening it to that his mother Princess Diana suffered before her death in a Paris car accident in 1997 when her limousine crashed as it sped away from chasing paparazzi.

 

Critical articles have picked out their use of private jets while promoting environmental causes, and the 2.4 million pound ($3 million) taxpayer-funded renovation of their new home.

 

Harry also admitted in October to disagreements with his brother, Prince William, who is second in line to the throne.

 

"We are certainly on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him as I know he will always be there for me," Harry said at the time. "As brothers you have good days, you have bad days."

 

Harry and William received more than 5 million pounds from their father, Prince Charles, last year.

 

It was not immediately clear how Harry and Meghan would achieve financial independence, although last year it was reported that Harry would be executive producer of a documentary on mental health with Oprah Winfrey, for Apple's video streaming service.

 

(Additional reporting by Michael Holden and Stephen Addison; editing by Mike Collett-White)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-09

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8 minutes ago, webfact said:

said they hoped to become financially independent and set up a charity, while continuing some royal duties.

In other words they want the perks without doing the job properly.

IMO the best thing for the royal family is to see the back of those two, IMO, waste of space royals. Sooner gone for good the better.

I could go on about what a huge mistake he made marrying her, but I doubt anyone hasn't already decided an opinion about her.

I might be in a minority here but i never took a shine to these 2 guys, either you're a royal or you're not, you want to live and be left alone like a common people, resign your titles and go live in Canada or South Africa somewhere, but until then, do what you have been born into this world for... 

She is typical Yank, wants everything her way. He should never have been allowed to marry her. She has dragged down the Royal family and is now taking away a decent bloke to be her lap dog. Let them go and never come back.  I would love to know what Prince Phillip thinks of her !

It gives them more time to hang out with Andrew.

Ah the misogynists and the conspiracy theorists out the gate early on this one...

 

I’m not a royalist - but I say good on them, have good lives and the rest of it is none of my business.

1 minute ago, samran said:

Ah the misogynists and the conspiracy theorists out the gate early on this one...

 

I’m not a royalist - but I say good on them, have good lives and the rest of it is none of my business.

 

I agree. If I never heard another word about Harry I would be happier and that would make the world a better place.

They are part of the trade deal you get them we pay for them????

43 minutes ago, samran said:

the rest of it is none of my business.

It is if you are British.

Either they are royals and have to do all the boring stuff, or they ain't and the taxpayer can stop supporting them.

As long as they stop getting taxpayers' money I don't care what they do.

OK, now stop getting money for your name from the state, home back to the queen and live within your means from work. Want to leave , go ahead. You'll be back when you're broke, homeless or only able to afford a cheap B and B in Skegness

 

 

3 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

OK, now stop getting money for your name from the state, home back to the queen and live within your means from work. Want to leave , go ahead. You'll be back when you're broke, homeless or only able to afford a cheap B and B in Skegness

 

 

Even if they never took another dime, thier connections mean they never have to work a day in thier lives.. Advisor fees, non exec director fees, the patronage networks run deep. 

Fair enough if they want to leave and live a private life. However it looks as though they want to keep the expensive security detail paid for by the British taxpayer, the expensive just renovated house in Windsor etc. Looking as though they want the best of both worlds, having ones cake etc...

I had a bet on with my Canadian friend predicting this would fall apart. It has I admit been astoundingly fast and ironically they might end up in Canada. She now owes me lunch!

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

In other words they want the perks without doing the job properly.

IMO the best thing for the royal family is to see the back of those two, IMO, waste of space royals. Sooner gone for good the better.

I could go on about what a huge mistake he made marrying her, but I doubt anyone hasn't already decided an opinion about her.

So exactly what mistake did Harry make in marrying an independent woman and self made millionaire? Should he have married and entitled aristocrat?

So Harry lives a life of luxury for 35 years at taxpayers expense and then when it's time to give something back he "steps back" from his duties. No doubt he'll be flying between the UK and North America to lecture the people that pay for the flights about reducing their carbon emissions.

 

I have no problem if he wants to "step back" from his duties, as long as he returns the assets that taxpayers have given him and he receives no more public money. Fair's fair.

 

He's going to have a big shock when he realizes what's involved in being financially independent. I guess he could go on the talk show circuit for a few quid and Markle could go back to starring in B movies.

1 hour ago, jaiyen said:

She is typical Yank, wants everything her way. He should never have been allowed to marry her. She has dragged down the Royal family and is now taking away a decent bloke to be her lap dog. Let them go and never come back.  I would love to know what Prince Phillip thinks of her !

Your response is laughable. "never been allowed to marry her"? Shouldn't he be able to marry the person of his choice? No wonder he wants to move to North America if this is the response he gets from his fellow countrymen.

In contrast there is kate and wills and kate especially, what a beautiful and classy lady, she is graceful. those to love their roles and it shows, the totall oposite of the 2 runners

Just now, madmen said:

In contrast there is kate and wills and kate especially, what a beautiful and classy lady, she is graceful. those to love their roles and it shows, the totall oposite of the 2 runners

She was classy until she sunk her teeth into her sister in law.

1 hour ago, samran said:

Ah the misogynists and the conspiracy theorists out the gate early on this one...

 

I’m not a royalist - but I say good on them, have good lives and the rest of it is none of my business.

 

fine, and true, however if you are a UK tax payer you have just forked out 2.4 million GBP to refurbish their UK residence, which they will now only use half the year. and who, for example, is going the fund the expense of security in two continents ? they want to be 'financially independent' so will he get a job or just live off his inherited wealth? they seem to want to have their cake and eat it. i dont blame him, but he has certainly changed since meeting and marrying Megan.

13 minutes ago, kamahele said:

So exactly what mistake did Harry make in marrying an independent woman and self made millionaire? Should he have married and entitled aristocrat?

Either he should have married a woman that is prepared to do the job she was marrying into, or he should have left the royals and made his own way with her.

Seems he still wants to be a royal, but without doing the work.

14 minutes ago, kamahele said:

Your response is laughable. "never been allowed to marry her"? Shouldn't he be able to marry the person of his choice? No wonder he wants to move to North America if this is the response he gets from his fellow countrymen.

Should have added "as long as being a royal". Of course he can marry anyone he likes as long as he abdicates his position, like a former king did.

Yoko 2.0

22 minutes ago, kamahele said:

Your response is laughable. "never been allowed to marry her"? Shouldn't he be able to marry the person of his choice? No wonder he wants to move to North America if this is the response he gets from his fellow countrymen.

Not all of 'em ????

6 minutes ago, aircooledflat4 said:

Yoko 2.0

Wallis 2.0

Too bad they are not Thai then you guys could have a real good go at them. Never heard so much <deleted> about two people you have never met and never will.

Good luck to him but IMO he should have waited until the Queen's Reign had ended.

If they settle in Canada, SA or other Commonwealth Country the ICBP could approach him re engaging in their frozen pension campaign...

 

Edited January 9, 20206 yr by evadgib

34 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

So Harry lives a life of luxury for 35 years at taxpayers expense and then when it's time to give something back he "steps back" from his duties. No doubt he'll be flying between the UK and North America to lecture the people that pay for the flights about reducing their carbon emissions.

 

I have no problem if he wants to "step back" from his duties, as long as he returns the assets that taxpayers have given him and he receives no more public money. Fair's fair.

 

He's going to have a big shock when he realizes what's involved in being financially independent. I guess he could go on the talk show circuit for a few quid and Markle could go back to starring in B movies.

His tours of duty in the military do not count as giving something back. Boys why not take a deep breath and see how it shakes out as said still in the process of working out the details

36 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Even if they never took another dime, thier connections mean they never have to work a day in thier lives.. Advisor fees, non exec director fees, the patronage networks run deep. 

True. Watching The Queens Christmas message this season made it completely clear how out of touch and obsolete  this institution remains . Good thing thing the young couple are moving in the right direction. 1/2 the worlds population lives on less than $2.50 per day and have no idea men ever walked on the moon they are to busy trying to find food. 

 

10 minutes ago, moe666 said:

Too bad they are not Thai then you guys could have a real good go at them. Never heard so much <deleted> about two people you have never met and never will.

It's irrelevant if I have met him. What is relevant is that the tax I pay funds his lifestyle and therefore I am entitled to an opinion on him ceasing to carry out his duties as a Royal.

Good for you Harry boy,and how about setting an example and not taking your allowance and paying for your own bodyguards etc etc etc

Edited January 9, 20206 yr by kingdong