Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Confirm They’re Finished Being Working Royals
On Friday, Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were officially done acting as working royals.
Last March, the couple announced they were “stepping back” as senior royals. Since then, all parties have agreed to a 12-month review period during which they can revisit their decision.
Even though this period is not over until March, the statement released by the Royal Family said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed to Queen Elizabeth that they would not be returning as working members of the royal family.
“Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family, it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service,” read the statement. “The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.”
The Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving, The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, The Rugby Football Union, The Rugby Football League, The Royal National Theatre, and The Association of Commonwealth Universities will all revert to the Queen.
The couple will be allowed to retain their his/Her Highness title, despite no longer using it. They will also remain as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“While all are saddened by their decision, the Duke and Duchess remain much-loved members of the family,” concluded the statement from Buckingham Palace.
Prince Harry and Markle’s spokesperson released a statement that said the couple “remain committed to their duty and service to the U.K. and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role. We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
Prince Harry will continue to oversee the Invictus Games Foundation, a Paralympic-style contest for service members incorporating the Endeavour Fund, and his charity, Sentebale, which combats the HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Africa. He will also continue his work with Wellchild, which aids sick children and their families.
Markle will continue to work with animal welfare charity Mayhew and Smart Works Charity, which provides women with professional attire for career opportunities.
It was reported earlier that the couple expected to be stripped of their remaining titles ahead of an interview they agreed to do with Oprah.
When Markle and Prince Harry stepped down in 2020, they cited the British media’s “unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes” toward Markle. Markle recently won a lawsuit against the British tabloid The Mail on Sunday.
The couple recently announced they were expecting their second child.
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