Harry and Meghan: the doubts and contradictions left by the announcement of the Dukes of Sussex
The news that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, will step aside from their duties as part of the British royal family caused surprise, but also many doubts and contradictions regarding the future of the Dukes of Sussex.
They may have written a statement and have a website where they give more details about their intentions.
But, even after reading them carefully, what remains are questions and more questions ... and contradictions, as the BBC's correspondent for the British royal house, Jonny Dymond, points out.
"In their statement, the couple said three times how much they hope to serve the Queen," Dymond wrote in an article.
"But the Queen was not given the opportunity to see her plans, let alone accept them."
Harry and Meghan seek to remain part of the royal family, an institution characterized by being subject to a strict set of rules and protocols.
But they want to do it by following their own rules, such as making their own selection of journalists who can attend their events rather than using the list approved by Buckingham Palace.
They affirm that they want to be financially independent and that they will not receive public funds, which, according to their website, only account for 5% of their income.
But, this percentage does not include the high cost of your personal security, which is borne by the UK government through taxes. Will they pay for it themselves from now on?
"The couple write on their website that they want to keep some royal duties (and presumably the royal titles that accompany them)," says Dymond.
"But they also make it clear, with some details, that they are not prepared to accept the already agreed way in which the media reports on actual activities."
"They seek to establish a separate organization that sometimes works with the palace, but they seem to have spoken to no one there about how that will work."
"They seek financial independence by earning a professional income. But nowhere do they recognize the risk of being accused of monetizing the real brand."
Here are some of the doubts and contradictions regarding the future of Harry and Meghan.
Will Harry still be sixth in line to the throne?
In the UK, the line of succession is not only determined by birth, but also by law. To remove someone from it, you would need an act of Parliament.
So far, however, the British Executive has limited itself to saying that all the questions about the announcement of the Dukes of Sussex are "for the royal family".
Are Harry and Megan doing the same thing as the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson?
Like Meghan Markle, Wallis Simpson was American and divorced.
When she and King Edward VIII fell in love, it was felt that the public would never accept a woman who had already been married as queen. It was 1936 and the current Queen's uncle was forced to choose between the throne and Wallis Simpson.
Edward VIII chose to stay with her and had to abdicate the crown and all royal duties.
Harry and Meghan have said they wish to "step aside" from their commitments as high-ranking royals, suggesting that they intend to still carry out some duties on behalf of the Queen.
It was a voluntary decision, they were not between a rock and a hard place like Edward VIII, who has since become the Duke of Windsor. But, it is still too early to know what her part-real and part-private role will consist of.
How will they be financed?
The dukes said they will become "financially independent members of the royal house." According to their website, "they value the ability to earn a professional income, something that is forbidden to them in the current structure (of the royal house)."
Therefore, they will not receive funds from the Sovereign Grant, the money that the British Treasury pays to the Queen and that she distributes among her family. The corresponding amount for the period from April 2020 to March 2021 is 85.7 million pounds, about $ 112 million.
According to Harry and Meghan, their share of this is only 5% of their income.
Where does the rest come from?
According to his website, 95% of the funds for his office come from the income of Prince Charles's estate - the Duchy of Cornwall.
The duchy belongs to all the heirs to the throne and has existed since Edward III created it for his son and heir, Prince Edward (famous as the Black Prince), in 1337.
According to its statutes, the Prince of Wales, as Duke of Cornwall, receives each year the income generated by this property, which includes large parts of the counties of Cornwall, Dorset and Herefordshire, all in the south of England.
However, it cannot benefit from income or profits that occur from the sale of any of its assets, according to the duchy's website. According to the annual report of the duchy, the profits generated in the period 2018-2019 were 21.6 million pounds, about US $ 28 million.
"This income is used to finance the personal and professional expenses of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It includes staff, charitable work and public functions."
Harry and Meghan have not said that they will also give up this source of funding.
What will happen to your home in Windsor?
On their website, the couple states that they will continue to use Frogmore Cottage, their residence within the royal palace at Windsor, with the permission of its owner, the Queen.
They both want this to remain their "official residence, as they continue to support the monarchy, and for their family to always have a place in the UK to call home."
Although Harry and Meghan say they do not want to use public funds, the maintenance of Frogmore Cottage is the responsibility of the Queen, who finances it with money from the Sovereign Grant.
What about security expenses?
The couple will continue to be protected by the Metropolitan Police, funded by British taxpayers. This body does not disclose the costs incurred in the task of protecting royalty.
But when asked if they will pay for their own security, they limit themselves to answering on their website that the provision of armed security is given by "order" of the UK Home Office.
This public spending, which the authorities never reveal on security grounds, is expected to increase with the lifestyle of continuous intercontinental travel that Harry and Meghan have chosen.
