Well, it actually happened. Two weeks ago, Harry and Meghan announced that they wanted to “step back” as front-line royals and “carve out a progressive new role within this institution.” But it’s more of stepping down than stepping back. The couple will no longer represent the Queen as working royals and are planning on working toward becoming financially independent. This will definitely change their life, but how will it also change their family?
Well, their royal duties will most likely be passed to other members of the royal family. According to the royal family’s official website, they carry out more than 2,000 official engagements all over the UK and the world every year. Harry and Meghan along with Prince William and Kate Middleton were responsible for many engagements as senior royals. Each of them has a specific cause that they champion. For example, Harry’s was environmental causes and Meghan’s was gender equality.
The couple will no longer use their royal titles, His and Her Royal Highnesses, but will be addressed as “Harry, Duke of Sussex” and “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” because those titles were gifted to them by the Queen on their wedding day. However, in the process of separating Harry and Meghan from the royal family, the palace later said it would change its guidance after reports of Meghan’s new title made it sound as though she were divorced.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently announced plans to start their own charity, Sussex Royal, after they split from Middleton and William’s Royal Foundation in 2019. This is one of the ways the couple hopes to generate income is through their brand “Sussex Royal.” However, The Times, a British newspaper, reported that an aide to the Queen warned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex against using that title. The charity isn’t expected to start operating until later this year, but how will operate and whether it will receive funding from the royal family remains to be seen.
Lastly, unlike Archie, their next child will not be a royal baby. Harry and Meghan were very secretive when Archie was born. They avoided the traditional post delivery photocall on the hospital steps and they didn’t reveal the hospital Archie was born in until his birth certificate was released. Since Archie wasn’t given a title, he was estimated to have boosted the UK economy by £1.25 billion. Now that the couple doesn’t have this sense of responsibility toward the British taxpayer, they can avoid publicly revealing details such as their next child’s name.
The Queen confirmed the family will “spend time in Canada and the UK” as a part of transitioning into their new lives. Meghan lived in the country for seven years and the couple says they have a “strong connection to Canada.” Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that discussions are ongoing in over who will pay the costs of their security detail.
Harry emphasized that the decision “is not one I made lightly” during his speech on Sunday. “The UK is my home and a place that I love,” Harry said. “That will never change.” He also stated that “it was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.”
We should all pray for the family, wish them the best in their endeavors, and support them as they transition into this new chapter of their lives.