Post by Admin on Jan 9, 2020 15:55:19 GMT -4
From Marie Claire
The Queen has reportedly called an emergency meeting with all four of the royal households—Meghan and Harry, William and Kate, Prince Charles and Camilla, and the Queen herself, with husband Prince Philip—to discuss the announcement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to "step back as senior members of the Royal Family."
"The Queen has convened a meeting of all four royal households and 'tasked' them with coming up with a 'workable' future role for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex within 'days not weeks,'" said royal reporter Rebecca English.
The meeting could focus on funding for the couple, their team, where they'll live, and what kind of roles they'll fulfill on behalf of the Queen. Alternatively, it could just be a whole lot of yelling. Who can say!
Either way, it's no wonder the Queen called an emergency meeting to try and get all her royal ducks in a row. On Wednesday afternoon, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared the shocking news via Instagram. The pair explained they came to this decision because they felt it was the best for their son, Archie, and it would help them focus on their work with causes and nonprofits.
After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. 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. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.” - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex For more information, please visit sussexroyal.com (link in bio) Image © PA
A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Jan 8, 2020 at 10:33am PST
This announcement came as a shock to royal fans everywhere (hello, me!). It also came as a shock to the royal family, it seems! Just hours later, Queen Elizabeth issued in a statement essentially contradicting the Sussex's own statement and saying that it was in the "early stages."
"Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through," said the Queen's office in a statement.
While it's unsure what the duo's next move is, the pair have been rumored to settle down in Los Angeles, possibly. "She likes the lifestyle and the privacy there," said a source. "She has been getting advice on the move from close friends, including Oprah and the Clooneys, and they have encouraged her that she and Harry can step away from the royal family and follow their own path."
And if you're wondering if the Queen would strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their "Sussex" titles, that could happen, but to avoid even more drama, it looks like the Buckingham Palace will put that idea on the back burner for now.
"This has moved from shock and a range of emotions to something more constructive," a source said. "It is complicated."
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