Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry has revealed that he and his wife, Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle had no option but to stand down from their Royal Family duties after new deal to leave the Royal Family has been agreed upon.
In a speech to supporters of his Sentebale charity at a dinner in London on Sunday, he insisted that they are ‘not walking away’ but felt ‘great sadness’ over the new arrangement.
After 10 days of negotiations between the couple and the Queen, their decision to step back from public duties will be in exchange for repaying millions in taxpayer funds and limiting how they can use their titles.
The agreement reached is such that they can quit front-line duties but cannot use their HRH titles, must pay back £2.4 million of taxpayer cash and no longer receive public funds.
But Harry also appeared to claim talks over his and Meghan’s role in the monarchy have been going on for ‘months’.
He said:
Before I begin, I must say I can only imagine what you may have heard and perhaps read over the past few weeks. So I want you to hear the truth from me as much as I can share, not as a prince or a duke but as Harry, the same person who many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years but now with a clearer perspective.
He continued his speech saying;
The UK is my home and a place that I love, that will never change. I have grown up feeling supported by so many of you and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life. Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve. For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this.
His emotional speech came following reports that the couple’s deal with the Queen over their future commercial projects will be subject to an annual review.
Their apparent hopes for a ‘half-in, half-out’ role in the monarchy were further dashed on Sunday as Buckingham Palace said they ‘can no longer formally represent’ the Queen after stepping back from public duties.
The pair have also been allowed to use their Sussex Royal brand, but according to reports, the arrangement could be reviewed in the spring of 2021.
It was suggested the royal household could use the review to step in if it is felt Harry and Meghan are misusing their royal background for financial gain.
Though the couple have not technically been stripped of their HRH styles, like Princess Diana was after her divorce, they can continue to be called Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
They have now trademarked their new ‘sussexroyal’ brand for up to 100 items.
While Prince Harry has to give up his honorary military titles, he and Meghan are allowed to keep the patronages they gained while full-time royals.
The only known bind on how they use their informal royal links is a promise that ‘everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty’.
Prince Charles’ private Duchy of Cornwall estate will also continue to fund his younger son and daughter-in-law.
The Queen in an emotional statement said;
I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.
