Prince Harry and Meghan deviate from their royal duties in a decision that disappoints Buckingham Palace
In an unexpected twist, Prince Harry of England and his wife Meghan announced on Wednesday that they will be leaving the British royal family and leaving their duties as high-ranking members of the institution.
The couple explained in a statement that they plan to "forge a new and progressive role within the institution."
Furthermore, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex indicated that they will divide their time between the United Kingdom and North America and that they intend to be "financially independent".
The decision came after "months of reflection and internal debate," the couple added in the statement, which was also shared on their Instagram page.
"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."
Real surprise
The BBC understands that no other members of the royal family, including the Queen and Prince William, were consulted before making the statement and that Buckingham Palace are "disappointed" and "hurt" by the announcement.
"I think the feeling of disappointment in the palace is really strong, perhaps not so much because of what has been done but because of how it has been done and because of the lack of consultation," said the BBC's correspondent for Royal Affairs, Jonny Dymond.
"This is clearly a huge rift, with Harry and Meghan on one side and the rest of the Royal Family on the other."
A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace said talks with the dukes about their decision to depart are "at an early stage" and added: "We understand your desire to take a new approach, but they are complicated matters that will take time to handle."
Between two continents
On their plans to divide time between Europe and America, the dukes wrote:
"This geographic balance will allow us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also giving us as a family the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our charitable organization."
During Christmas break, the couple took a break from royal duties to spend time in Canada with their son, Archie, born on May 6 last year.
Harry is sixth in line to the throne - after Prince Charles, Prince William and their three sons - and it is unclear what the impact of Wednesday's announcement on that hierarchy may be.
"We look forward to sharing all the details of this exciting step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and all parties involved," the statement read.
"Until then, please accept our deep appreciation for your continued support."
The role of the media
Last October, Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their troubles dealing with media attention.
In a documentary then aired on ITV, Meghan admitted that motherhood turned into a "struggle" due to intense press interest.
Meghan also took legal action against a newspaper in October for publishing one of her private letters.
The Duchess of Sussex accused The Mail on Sunday and its parent company of running a campaign of "untrue" stories.
For her part, Prince Harry also reacted to reports of an alleged dispute between her and her brother William, the Duke of Cambridge, saying they are on "different paths."
"Nothing like it in modern times"
In a first reaction to the Duke's announcement, former Buckingham Palace press spokesman Dickie Arbiter suggested that the decision shows that "Harry's heart dominates his mind."
Arbiter told the BBC that "the relentless media onslaught" following the birth of the dukes' son may have influenced the decision.
The expert compared this step with the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936 to marry the American Wallace Simpson, who had been divorced twice.
"That is the only precedent, but there has been nothing like it in modern times," he said.
Asked how being a "part-time" member of the royal family works, Arbiter acknowledged that he does not know.
"They are going to have to take a lot of flights with a large carbon footprint," he said, "something that can arouse suspicion."
The royal family's export spokesperson also questioned the dukes' plan to become financially independent.
"I mean, Harry is not a poor man, but settling on two different continents, raising a family, continuing to do your job ... how is that going to be financed?", And added: "How is his going to be financed? security?".
