Prince Harry and Meghan to drop HRH titles and will no longer receive public funds
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their HRH titles and will not receive any further public funds, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. The couple will become known as Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Harry, who was born a prince of Wales, will remain a prince.
The couple intend to keep Frogmore Cottage as their UK home and will repay £2.4m of taxpayer money used to refurbish the property.
The new arrangement will also see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex step back from their Royal duties, including official military appointments. The Palace said the new arrangement will come into effect in spring of this year.
"With the Queen's blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations," the statement continued.
"While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty. The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family."
The statement added: "Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security."
The Queen also addressed the decision in a statement released today:
"Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognised the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. 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."
The announcement comes less than a week after Her Majesty gave her blessing to her grandson and Meghan to step down as senior royals. In a move hinting at today's news, the Sussexes were referred to as 'Harry and Meghan' in the literature, and not 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex' as they usually would.
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