19 Questions We Still Have About Meghan and Harry's New Roles in the Royal Family
When Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back from their senior positions within the royal family, to seek out financial independence, and to split their time between the U.K. and North America, they pushed live a new website outlining how they would "carve out a progressive new role within [the institution of the royal family]."
But despite detailed web pages on everything from the Sussexes' new approach to the press to a breakdown of their funding, a number of questions remain.
Teams at Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, and Kensington Palace are currently working with members of the Sussex Household "at pace" to come up with a "workable solution" to Harry and Meghan's choice.
"These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days," the Queen wrote in a rare personal statement following her meeting with Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Charles.
In the meantime, here's everything we do—and don't—know about Harry and Meghan's new roles in the royal family.
Where can I read Harry and Meghan's full statement stepping back from their positions as senior members of the royal family?
Their full statement is available to read here.
Did Harry and Meghan tell the rest of the royal family before they went public with their news?
Shortly following Harry and Meghan's initial announcement, the BBC reported that "no other member of the Royal Family was consulted before Harry and Meghan issued their personal statement."
BREAKING. BBC Understands that no other member of the Royal Family was consulted before Harry and Meghan issued their personal statement tonight, the Palace is understood to be ‘disappointed’.
— Jonny Dymond (@JonnyDymond) January 8, 2020
But sources close to the Sussexes reject the idea that the news blindsided the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William. Omid Scobie reported for Harper's Bazaar that "conversations about the couple’s future plans and ambitions had taken place internally 'on all levels' for several months in the run-up to their so-called 'bombshell' on January 8."
Scobie also reveals that a leak about their future plans prompted them to make their announcement, perhaps earlier than they had wanted.
"They felt they had been cornered,” a source told Scobie. “It was a case of act now or lose control of something they had spent a long time working on.”
How has the rest of the royal family responded to the Sussexes'?
Initially, Buckingham Palace issued a terse response to Harry and Meghan's big news, suggesting the rest of the royals weren't fully in the loop about the announcement.
It reads:
“Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”
The BBC also reported that the palace was understood to be "disappointed." But that disappointment quickly shifted to action.
On January 9, a source shared that the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William have all "directed their teams to work together at pace with governments and The Sussex Household to find workable solutions."
These proposed "workable solutions" are expected to take days rather than weeks.
And on Monday, Prince Harry met with his grandmother, father, and brother at Sandringham to "talk things through."
Following that so-called royal summit, the Queen issued a rare personal statement confirming that Harry and Meghan would be stepping back from the royal family.
It reads in part:
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.
Read the whole statement here.
Where will the Sussexes' live?
In their initial statement, Harry and Meghan shared that moving forward, they plan to split their time between the U.K. and North America.
"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity," they said.
In her statement, the Queen clarified that during a "transition period," the Sussexes will "spend time in Canada and the UK."
Canada was an obvious choice for the Sussexes both because of its position within the Commonwealth, and Meghan's familiarity with the country, having lived there in her pre-royal life. That said, Meghan is also from the U.S., and she could also choose to spend more time with her mother Doria, who lives in Los Angeles.
While in the U.K., they would like to to continue living at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to use Frogmore Cottage–with the permission of Her Majesty The Queen–as their official residence as they continue to support the Monarchy, and so that their family will always have a place to call home in the United Kingdom," reads a section on their website.
The home is owned by the monarch, and it is currently unknown if the Sussexes will have to pay rent as they seek financial independence. Notably, the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage was funded by the Queen through the Sovereign Grant last year, and cost roughly $3 million in public funds.
But all expenses related to "fixtures, furnishings, and fittings" were paid for privately by the couple.
Read more on where they might live in North America.
How will this move affect Meghan's immigration status?
Ahead of the Sussexes' wedding, the royal family confirmed Meghan's intentions of becoming a British citizen. But depending on exactly how much time the Sussexes plan to spend out of the U.K., her plans to split time between the U.K. and North America could make that goal more difficult, if she has to adhere to the same rules as everyone else.
Read more on her immigration status and how the potential move could impact her tax bill here.
What does it mean for Harry and Meghan to be financially independent?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's initial statement about wanting to step back from their senior roles in the royal family made it clear that they plan to become financially independent. To Harry and Meghan, that means that they will no longer receive funding from the Sovereign Grant, the sum of money given to the monarch by the government to support the work of the royal family.
Money from the Sovereign Grant makes up about 5% of funding for the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and covers "costs associated with employing members of their official office."
The other 95% of their funding comes from the Duchy of Cornwall, a portfolio of real estate and financial investments, which provides an income for the heir to the throne, currently Prince Charles, and his offspring.
According to the Times, Prince Charles gives Prince William and Prince Harry roughly £5 million (roughly $6.5 million) a year. "Harry’s share is thought to be a little under half of that," cites the paper.
As Harry and Meghan made their plan public before getting it fully approved by the Queen and Prince Charles, it's unconfirmed if the Sussexes will continue to be primarily funded by the Duchy of Cornwall.
Additionally, Harry and Meghan have expressed interest in earning a professional income, something which is currently off-limits for senior members of the royal family.
"For this reason they have made the choice to become members of the Royal Family with financial independence," reads an explanation on their website. "Their Royal Highnesses feel this new approach will enable them to continue to carry out their duties for Her Majesty The Queen, while having the future financial autonomy to work externally."
Again, it's unclear what sort of working arrangement the Queen and Prince Charles will agree to for Harry and Meghan in this regard.
Who will pay for their security both in the U.K. and abroad?
The Sussexes reference this question on their website in the funding section but they don't offer a satisfactory answer.
Their explanation:
"The provision of armed security by The Metropolitan Police is mandated by the Home Office, a ministerial department of Her Majesty’s Government, responsible for security and law & order."
They also cite the government's website, which reads:
“No breakdown of security costs is available as disclosure of such information could compromise the integrity of these arrangements and affect the security of the individuals protected. It is long established policy not to comment upon the protective security arrangements and their related costs for members of the Royal Family or their residences.”
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, has noted that Canadians are "supportive" of Harry and Meghan, but details about the cost of their move (including their security) need to be worked out.
"I think most Canadians are very supportive of having royals be here, but how that looks and what kind of costs are involved, there are still lots of discussions to have," Trudeau told Global News.
So for now, this particular funding question will remain a mystery. Read more on how their security could change with their new roles here.
Will Harry and Meghan still go on royal tours?
The Sussexes' website suggests they will continue to represent the United Kingdom and the monarch abroad, though it's unknown how that will be possible in tandem with complete financial independence.
Their website explains:
The Duke and Duchess proudly carry out official overseas visits in support of Her Majesty The Queen at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), as is the case for all members of the Royal Family.
Will they still make public engagements?
While the Sussexes outlined plans to continue supporting their patronages and the Queen, what that looks like in terms of public engagements remains to be seen. It's also unknown if they will continue to attend family events like Trooping the Colour or church services on holidays like Easter and Christmas.
Do other royals earn their own income?
Yes. As the Sussexes explain on their website, "there is precedent for this structure and applies to other current members of the Royal Family who support the monarch and also have full time jobs external to their commitment to the monarchy."
Notably, both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie currently have full-time jobs, though Prince Andrew's oldest daughter has shared in the past that being a modern royal with a separate career can be "hard to navigate."
"There is no precedent, there is no protocol,” Beatrice said in an interview with Vogue. “We are the first: we are young women trying to build careers and have personal lives, and we’re also princesses and doing all of this in the public eye.”
What is the deal with their new website?
Article, the Toronto-based website development company which previously worked on Meghan's now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, created the Sussex Royal website. A source told Harper's Bazaar: “Very few people were involved in the process, but those who were managed to keep information of the site confidential.”
Recently, Ryan Sax, the digital media firm's founder shared what it was like working with the royals on this project. “It’s been a pleasure to work on this website with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex," he told T&C.
"To know that they chose our boutique Canadian agency means so much to us, and I’m happy we could create something special for them.”
Will they still work with their existing patronages?
Harry and Meghan made it clear that they intend to stay involved with their existing patronages. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages," they wrote in their initial statement.
Meghan currently has four official patronages—Mayhew, Smartworks, The National Theatre, and The Association of Commonwealth Universities—while Prince Harry is directly involved in more than a dozen organizations ranging from African Parks and Rhino Conservation Botswana to the Rugby Football League and WellChild.
When is their foundation, Sussex Royal, launching?
Back in September, Meghan revealed that the foundation will launch sometime in 2020. "we'll be excited to be able to share more about next year when we launch our foundation, Sussex Royal 2020," she said at an event for her charitable clothing line Smart Works.
Harry and Meghan also filed to register a trademark for "Sussex Royal The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex" back in June, but the filing wasn't published until December. It covers a number of items ranging from printed materials and clothing to fundraising campaigns and educational classes.
Get more information on the foundation here.
Are Harry and Meghan keeping their titles?
Harry and Meghan signed their initial statement as "Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex," indicating that they would like to keep their royal status and titles while "starting to carve out a progressive new role." But again, this arrangement was reportedly not approved by the Queen ahead of Harry and Meghan going public with it.
As the Sussexes point out on their website, there have been other royals who have retained their HRH status while earning a professional income.
"Yes, there is precedent for this structure and applies to other current members of the Royal Family who support the monarch and also have full time jobs external to their commitment to the monarchy," reads their description.
But it should be noted that a scenario exactly like Harry and Meghan's, in which a senior member of the royal family wants to become financially independent but still have some royal duties, is unprecedented.
What will their last name be?
If, for some reason, they did give up their titles, Harry and Meghan could use the last name Mountbatten-Windsor, which is the last name afforded to the direct descendants of the Queen and Duke of Windsor. Their son Archie already uses this last name as he does not have a royal title.
Will Harry give up his place in the order of succession?
As sixth in the order of succession, the Duke of Sussex will likely never be king. The throne will pass from the Queen to Prince Charles to Prince William, and on to the Cambridge children, starting with Prince George. But even still, Prince Harry has made no public indication that he would like to give up his place in the line to the throne. The Sussexes' new website points out that there have been several royals in the past that have earned professional income while maintaining a "commitment to the monarchy."
And if he did want to give up his spot, it's not entirely up to him.
“You can’t just renounce your right to the throne," Marlene Koenig, a historical and author of the blog Royal Musings, told Time. "It has to be done by an act of Parliament, because succession is governed by several laws.”
What is the Sussexes' new media policy?
Harry and Meghan have made it clear that they would like to operate outside the traditional "royal rota" system, which allows a select group of British publications to have more access to the royals than other journalists. (Read more on exactly what the royal rota system is here.)
Given how unhappy Harry and Meghan have been with the media, this seems to be a major motivation for their wanting to step back from their positions as senior members of the royal family and to seek out financial independence. If they no longer receive public funding, the Sussexes feel that they should no longer be accountable to the rota system.
"Following their decision to adjust their working model in 2020, it is appropriate to amend their media relations policy to reflect their new roles," reads their website. "Their sincere hope is that this change in media policy will enhance access and give The Duke and Duchess the ability to share information more freely with members of the public."
Their new media policy also mentions wanting to work with specialist media and grassroots organizations on coverage in addition to providing "access to credible media outlets focused on objective news reporting to cover key moments and events."
"The Duke and Duchess have chosen to revise their media policy to reflect both their forthcoming change as members of the Royal Family with financial independence, and their wish to reshape and broaden access to their work," explains their website.
Read their complete new policy here.
Is Meghan going back to acting?
Harry and Meghan haven't established exactly how they would like to earn a professional income, so a return to Hollywood isn't entirely off the table yet. It has been reported that Meghan signed a voiceover deal with Disney, a project which benefits Elephants Without Borders.
More on the voiceover deal here.
Will she relaunch her personal Instagram account?
Harry and Meghan have confirmed that they will "continue to have a social media platform," but it's unknown if Meghan will relaunch her personal accounts, or if all communication will come from the Sussex Royal Instagram. Any plans for a personal Twitter account have yet to be publicly shared.
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