Queen ‘Supportive’ of Harry and Meghan’s Plans for a ‘New Life’
Queen Elizabeth II said Monday that the royal family had “very constructive discussions” about the future of her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, the former Meghan Markle, at a meeting on Monday.
Present at the meeting were Prince Charles, the queen’s son and heir, Prince Harry, and his brother, Prince William, who is second in line to the British throne.
The queen said she would permit the couple to make the transition to part-time royal status, become self-supporting, and split their time between the United Kingdom and Canada.
The announcement comes after a surprise announcement by the couple, formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, that they plan to “step back” from their official duties and become “financially independent.”
“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family,” the queen said in a statement. “Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the royal family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.”
The statement, while candid, left a host of unanswered questions on the table. The queen did not address in her statement how or even whether the couple could achieve financial independence without unduly commercializing the British monarchy, who would pay for their expenses including their protection detail, and whether they would keep their current titles.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
