On Friday, February 19, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry confirmed to Elizabeth II that they will not return as active members of the Royal Family. An initiative that “saddened” the Queen, as stated in a statement from the Palace.
The news was expected but it is like a bomb. As the end of the Megxit agreement was fast approaching, the cleaver fell. On Friday, February 19, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry confirmed to Elizabeth II that they will not return as active members of the royal family. “While all are saddened by their decision, the Duke and Duchess remain beloved members of the Royal Family,” the Palace said in a statement.
By this decision, the couple of Sussex lose their last official titles, as the Palace stated in a communiqué. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as active members of the Royal Family,” the statement said. “Following conversations with the Duke, the Queen has confirmed that by moving away from the work of the Royal Family, it is not possible for him to continue to assume the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service,” the statement said.
A hybrid role is not an option
Thus, as the Palace explains, the honorary military titles and royal patronages that were still held by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be returned to Queen Elizabeth II and then redistributed to active members of the royal family. Very attached in particular to her military titles, the Queen’s decision is a real heartbreaker for Prince Harry. “It was clear to her from the outset that a hybrid role is not an option,” a source told our colleagues at People.
It was not an easy decision for the Queen, especially since she was looking forward to becoming a great-grandmother again. As a result, Prince Harry will be deprived of his patronage with the Rugby Football Union, the Rugby Football League and the London Marathon. For her part, Meghan Markle will have to resign as patroness of the National Theatre, where she was appointed in 2019 by the Queen in a show of support.
A daily newspaper to be reinvented far from the United Kingdom
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left the royal family in January 2020, stating that they wanted to become financially independent. Since then, the Sussex couple has moved to the United States to a luxury villa in Santa Barbara. A series of multimillion-dollar deals with giants Netflix and Spotify followed. The couple also created their own foundation, called Archewell. Thousands of miles away from the UK, a new page is being written for them.
A new life for Meghan and Harry
This news is all the more revealing of Meghan and Harry’s intention to completely change their lives and turn the page on royalty. Currently pregnant with her second child, the former Suits actress longs for peace and quiet, away from the spotlight, pressure and media harassment she faced after joining the royal family. Removed from social networks, the spouses have become increasingly discreet since settling on American soil, in order to preserve their family. However, the young parents have not been idle and continue to think business, and have signed major multi-million dollar contracts with Netflix and Spotify.
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