Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their official titles, according to Buckingham Palace’s website. This is all part of their plan to step back from their roles as “senior” members of the royal family and be financially independent from Harry’s family.
The Sussexes will also pay back Sovereign Grant expenditure that went into refurbishing Frogmore Cottage in Windsor last year, per the Palace’s statement. The Palace also stated that Harry and Meghan wanted to repay the money. The New York Times reports that $3 million in taxpayer money went into redoing theWindsor residence, which is what Harry and Meghan will owe. Frogmore will remain the couple’s home when they are in the UK.
“With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations,” the statement on the website reads. “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.”
This news follows the “summit” that the family had at their country home in Sandringham on Monday, where they discussed the details of what life would look like for Harry and Meghan going forward.
In addition to the announcement on the website, Queen Elizabeth released her own statement.
“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 recognize 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 Queen’s overall attitude about this news has been something like (but even kinder than) this Julie Andrews line from The Princess Diaries: “As your queen I simply cannot condone it. . .as a Grandma, I say right on!”
Источник: www.elle.com
