The Sussexes made the bombshell announcements they were stepping down as senior royals in January 2020 – and Harry is said to have later had regrets about the way they delivered the news
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle rocked the royal family with their decision to step down in January 2020. And the Prince is said to have some regrets about the way he dealt with the situation at the time.
Harry and Meghan had taken to social media to announce their intentions to step back from full-time royal life and carve their own way financially.
In a statement they said, in part: “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. 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.”
But their announcement stunned many of those closest to them – including the monarch. And, as reported by the Telegraph , Harry later regretted how he had “blindsided” his grandmother with the announcement by not talking to her first. A source said at the time: “I don’t think he fully appreciated the impact the statement would have in terms of them not consulting the Queen. He regrets that.”
The announcement led the Queen to issue an unprecedented statement in which she confirmed that the couple were no longer “full-time working members of the Royal family“. She admitted that she would have “preferred” the Sussexes to stay, but insisted she understood and supported their “wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family”.
“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives,” the Queen said. “It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.
“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.”
In February 2021, Buckingham Palace issued another statement on behalf of the Queen. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family,” it read.
“Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.
“While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family.”