Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced Wednesday they will be breaking away from the Royal Family to become financially independent.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the royal couple announced on Instagram. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
Oh my god: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are stepping back as "senior royals." It's here, it's happening. https://t.co/yCH65fZhuO pic.twitter.com/ex0uj0iwbS
— Kaitlin Menza (@heykmenz) January 8, 2020
Prince Harry and Markle said they would be launching a “new charitable entity” and would be splitting their time between Great Britain 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,” the couple said.
Prince Harry, 35, and Markle, aged 38, got married in the spring of 2018 and have had a turbulent relationship with the press and other royals since Markle’s official addition to the family. Harry is sixth in line for the throne.
People Magazine reports that the several royal insiders believe the rift between Harry and Markle with other the Cambridges, or, Prince William and Catherine Middleton to go far deeper than the public may realize. In December, Harry and Markle skipped the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations.
A correspondent at BBC reported on Twitter today that, per his source, “no other member of the Royal Family was consulted before Harry and Meghan issued their personal statement tonight” and that “the Palace is understood to be ‘disappointed’.” According to BBC’s source, senior members within the Royal Family reportedly feel “hurt” by the decision.
The couple is currently engaged in multiple lawsuits with British media outlets for its reporting on the family arguing coverage has been unfair, and hurtful.
“Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son,” Harry said in an October statement.
Markle gave birth to a baby boy last May and named him Archie.