Buckingham palace has officially announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their HRH titles and will not receive public funds for royal duties. The couple will also no longer formally represent the Queen.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex intend to repay the £2.4m of taxpayer money for the renovating of their Frogmore cottage, which will remain their UK family home, the statement added.
The statement comes after the Queen of England held meetings with her grandson, Prince Harry and Meghan following their announcement that they wanted to “step back” as senior royals and divide their time between the UK and Canada.
The Queen said in a statement: “Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.”
As well as repaying the cost of renovating their Frogmore Cottage, the couple will pay a “commercial rent” for the property. Buckingham Palace said Harry and Meghan understood they are “required to step back from royal duties,” including official military appointments, adding: ‘This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020.”
The changes mean that the couple, who are still Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will be free to earn their own income and are no longer “working royals.” The couple have also made it clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.
However, Harry, who served a decade in the British Army, will give up his military patronages and his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, but will remain a prince and sixth in line to the British throne.
