Prince Harry and Meghan to Drop Their Royal Highness Titles

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their HRH titles, receive public funds for royal duties or formally represent Queen Elizabeth II from spring, the Queen and Buckingham Palace announced on January 18 after reaching a new arrangement.

Earlier this month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention “to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent”.

The couple’s announcement prompted intensive discussions between the prince and other senior royals, led by the Queen.

In 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan spoke of the difficulties of royal life and media scrutiny, with the duke saying he feared his wife would fall victim to “the same powerful forces” that led to his mother’s death.

In her statement on January 18, the Queen said she was pleased that a “constructive and supportive way forward for [her] grandson and his family” had been found.

The Queen said she recognized the “challenges” they had experienced “as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years”.

Prince Harry and Meghan: Queen Elizabeth Issues Statement After Family Summit

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Will Step Back as Senior Royals and Work to Become Financially Independent

Buckingham Palace said the duke and duchess understood that under the new arrangement, they were required to withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments, but would continue to “uphold the values of Her Majesty”.

According to the statement, Prince Harry and Meghan intend to repay £2.4 million of taxpayer money used for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage.

The house in Windsor, for which the couple will pay rent, will remain their family home as they divide their time between the UK and Canada.

Prince Harry and Meghan will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations – the duke currently holds 16 patronages, including the Invictus Games Foundation, the Royal Marines and the Rugby Football League; and the duchess four – the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, London-based animal charity Mayhew, and women’s charity Smart Works.

They will no longer use HRH, an abbreviation of His/Her Royal Highness, which is part of the title of some members of the Royal Family.

Speaking briefly to reporters at a summit in Berlin, UK’s PM Boris Johnson said he had been confident the Royal Family would find a way forward for Prince Harry and Meghan, adding: “I think the whole country will want to join in wishing them the very best for the future.”

However in comments made for a forthcoming Channel 5 documentary, Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, accused the couple of “destroying” the Royal Family which he called “one of the greatest long-living institutions ever”.

“Every young girl wants to become a princess and she got that and now she’s tossing that away,” he said.

“It looks like she’s tossing that away for money.”

Some questions about Prince Harry and Meghan’s future status remain unanswered, including what their tax and immigration status will be in the UK and Canada.

It is not yet known whether Meghan Markle still intends to gain British citizenship, which would entail her spending a certain amount of time in the UK.

The Sussexes have already begun a transition phase of living in Canada and the UK.

The duchess is in Canada, a Commonwealth country, with son Archie, where the Sussexes were for six weeks over the festive period.

On January 14, Meghan Markle visited a charity in Vancouver which campaigns for teenage girls living in poverty.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their HRH titles, receive public funds for royal duties or formally represent Queen Elizabeth II from spring, the Queen and Buckingham Palace announced on January 18 after reaching a new arrangement.

Earlier this month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention “to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent”.

The couple’s announcement prompted intensive discussions between the prince and other senior royals, led by the Queen.

In 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan spoke of the difficulties of royal life and media scrutiny, with the duke saying he feared his wife would fall victim to “the same powerful forces” that led to his mother’s death.

In her statement on January 18, the Queen said she was pleased that a “constructive and supportive way forward for [her] grandson and his family” had been found.

The Queen said she recognized the “challenges” they had experienced “as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years”.

Buckingham Palace said the duke and duchess understood that under the new arrangement, they were required to withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments, but would continue to “uphold the values of Her Majesty”.

According to the statement, Prince Harry and Meghan intend to repay £2.4 million of taxpayer money used for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage.

The house in Windsor, for which the couple will pay rent, will remain their family home as they divide their time between the UK and Canada.

Prince Harry and Meghan will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations – the duke currently holds 16 patronages, including the Invictus Games Foundation, the Royal Marines and the Rugby Football League; and the duchess four – the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, London-based animal charity Mayhew, and women’s charity Smart Works.

They will no longer use HRH, an abbreviation of His/Her Royal Highness, which is part of the title of some members of the Royal Family.

Speaking briefly to reporters at a summit in Berlin, UK’s PM Boris Johnson said he had been confident the Royal Family would find a way forward for Prince Harry and Meghan, adding: “I think the whole country will want to join in wishing them the very best for the future.”

However in comments made for a forthcoming Channel 5 documentary, Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, accused the couple of “destroying” the Royal Family which he called “one of the greatest long-living institutions ever”.

“Every young girl wants to become a princess and she got that and now she’s tossing that away,” he said.

“It looks like she’s tossing that away for money.”

Some questions about Prince Harry and Meghan’s future status remain unanswered, including what their tax and immigration status will be in the UK and Canada.

It is not yet known whether Meghan Markle still intends to gain British citizenship, which would entail her spending a certain amount of time in the UK.

The Sussexes have already begun a transition phase of living in Canada and the UK.

The duchess is in Canada, a Commonwealth country, with son Archie, where the Sussexes were for six weeks over the festive period.

On January 14, Meghan Markle visited a charity in Vancouver which campaigns for teenage girls living in poverty.