Prince Harry and Meghan Markle resigned from their duties in the British royal family and will seek financial independence
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to retire from public life and will divide their time between the UK and Canada
Following a tough 2019 by public scrutiny, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed they are retiring from British royalty. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen this year to begin a progressive transition to our new role at this institution," Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle, 38, announced in a statement.
They added: “We intend to step back as members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly in recent years, that we feel prepared to make this change. We now plan to balance our time between the UK and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages, "added the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who last May became parents to Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, that does not bear a noble title.
“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 our family the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing all the details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with His Majesty, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our sincere thanks for your continued support, "concluded the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in a statement posted on their various social media.
The decision comes days after the royal couple's six-week vacation in Canada. They spent family time with their eight-month-old son Archie and the former actress's mother. After much speculation, the royal couple finally confirmed that they decided to abandon their royal duties and retire from public life.
The dukes - who were married in May 2018 in a majestic wedding at Windsor Castle - had decided to spend the holidays away from the Queen and the rest of the royal family. Now, as they have communicated, their home will be between the United Kingdom and North America.
Harry and Meghan's marriage has been affected by the harsh criticism they receive from the press for their excessive spending and for their desperate attempt at privacy, as they even refused to reveal where their son Archie was born and who his godparents were.
In a documentary filmed in South Africa, the couple acknowledged that they were unwell because of the comments against them, and Harry admitted that she had distanced herself from her older brother, Prince William. Although they were nicknamed the "Fab Four" (Fantastic Four), William, his wife Kate Middleton and Harry and Meghan parted ways with their royal foundation last year. Harry and Meghan will launch their own organization, called Royal Sussex.
Markle was seen earlier on Wednesday at London's National Theater, of which she is a patron, while the couple visited the Canadian embassy in London on Tuesday to thank them for their hospitality during their expensive North American vacation.
The Los Angeles-born Duchess lived in Toronto when she was working as an actress for the series Suits, and described Canada as a second home. The dukes and their son stayed at a $ 10 million oceanfront mansion in one of the most beautiful locations on Vancouver Island, and were seen walking with friends in the area.
The announcement does not attract attention after the dukes themselves recognized that "they were not well" due to the tough battle they faced with some British tabloids.
In October, Harry announced that his wife was taking legal action against a tabloid for publishing a private letter to her father. "I lost my mother and now I see my wife fall victim to the same powerful forces," Lady Di's youngest son said in a harsh statement.
Markle sued the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday and its parent company Associated Newspapers for "misuse of private information, infringement of copyright."
"This relentless propaganda comes at a human cost, specifically when it is deliberately false and malicious, and although we have moved on, I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been," Harry expressed in the lengthy note.
In the legal complaint filed before the Court, the Duchess also accused the aforementioned British tabloid of telling "false" and "absurd" stories related to different aspects of her life for more than three years, such as the reform of her residence in Windsor, Frogmore Cottage, or the baby shower that was held in New York.
Last year, the royal couple left Kensington Palace, where they lived with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to move to their new home, Frogmore Cottage. The mansion is located in the gardens adjoining Windsor Castle. According to the information provided by the Crown, the renovation of the house cost USD 3.5 million to the public coffers.
