When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle resigned early last year and left England, they signed a contract with Buckingham Palace as non-working members of the royal family. The contract, which expires on March 31, granted the couple royal privileges. The couple had planned to come to London for talks with Queen Elizabeth to extend the contract, but today it was announced that the Queen has decided to deprive Harry and Meghan of royal privileges.
This means that Harry will be suspended from a number of official positions, including the post of captain-General of the Royal Marines. In addition, Harry will be banned from wearing military uniforms and medals for his service in Afghanistan. As for Meghan, she will have to give up her role as patron of the National London Theatre.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty the Queen that they will not be returning as acting members of the Royal Family,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. — After the conversation with the Duke, the queen wrote a letter confirming that having retired from working in the royal family, it is impossible to continue to perform the duties of a member of the royal family. Thus, the honorary military appointments and royal patronages belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be returned to Her Majesty, and then distributed among the working members of the royal family. All members of the royal family are saddened by the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but they remain very much loved by the family.”
In return, Harry and Meghan offered their support to the organizations they previously represented, regardless of their official role. Whether the organizations will agree to support the spouses is not yet reported.
The day before, Harry and Meghan announced that they are expecting their second child. According to insiders, the couple was worried about this pregnancy, since Markle suffered a miscarriage last summer. Megan revealed this in a heartfelt essay for The New York Times.
On March 7, the couple will give a candid interview to Oprah Winfrey, in which they will talk for the first time about their marriage, Meghan’s pregnancy, as well as about the reasons for leaving the royal family and moving to the United States.
