Harry and Meghan break free from the British Monarchy
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced Wednesday evening January 8 their decision to withdraw from the official life of the royal family. The end of a fairy tale.
The British royal family continues to make national headlines. After the scandal in mid-November around Prince Andrew, considered far too close to the former pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the British press unanimously headlined Thursday, January 9 on the decision of Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, to stand take center stage.
"After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year by starting to draw a new role within this institution", begins the personal statement published on Wednesday January 8 on the evening of the two spouses. "We intend to step back from being 'major' members of the royal family and working to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen. "
The abdication of King Edward VIII
This decision is exceptional. Never has an important member of the royal family decided to take a step back from his official obligations since the abdication of King Edward VIII on December 11, 1936. Eager to marry a divorced American, which was fine. at the time against the rules of the Church of England, he was forced to leave the throne so as not to provoke a political crisis.
It was largely for the love of American Meghan Markle, also divorced before their marriage in May 2018, that Prince Harry decided to shed his royal role. However, not enough to shake the Monarchy since Harry is only sixth in order of succession to the throne.
This is hardly surprising, however. At the end of October, the young couple had already expressed their desire to live differently. After announcing his decision to sue the Mail on Sunday tabloid for the publication without his consent of a letter sent by Meghan to his father, Harry justified their action: his wife suffers from the lies and gossip published by the tabloid press .
“I have been a silent witness to his private suffering for too long. To do nothing would be contrary to everything I believe ”. For her part, Meghan says she "told Harry for a long time that it's not enough to just survive, it's not the point of life. You have to enjoy, you have to feel happy! "
Bitterness within the royal family
Even if she claims to have "tried to adopt the British behavior, never to speak the bottom of her mind", the former American B-series actress has obviously never taken, or wanted to take, the measure of the meaning of his entry into the royal family and the constraints that go with it. His words were often echoed by the press, which emphasized his hypocrisy and criticized his expensive lifestyle: the rental of a private jet to go to New York to party for the birth of his child, his taste for luxury in terms of clothing. which contrast with the restraint of her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, the refusal to comply with the habits and customs towards the queen, such as spending Christmas in Canada. All this created some bitterness within the royal family.
The couple's departure for other skies is no big deal for the royal family. Their decision is even applauded by many celebrities. It is nevertheless not without consequence. Harry and Meghan were celebrated following their wedding as the couple capable of bringing the British people and the royal family together. Conversely, it confirms the growing gap between the celebrity world, arguably far too preoccupied with social media comments, and ordinary people.
If the princely couple intends to forge a new life and "become financially independent", it is thanks to their reputation linked to their belonging to the British crown, such as the annual financial support of 3 million euros paid to them by Prince Charles and Harry's personal fortune of over $ 15 million.
