Prince Harry and Meghan Markle NOT returning as working royals

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‘Disappointed’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle thought they could keep their patronages, sources revealed this evening, after the Queen announced that the couple would be permanently quitting the Firm – a month before their Megxit arrangement was up for review.

The monarch said she was ‘saddened’ by the decision to strip them of their remaining honorary roles but firm that their new life in America meant they could not perform the ‘duties that come with a life of public service’.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex then issued an extraordinary statement just minutes after Her Majesty’s declaration this afternoon, in which they claimed ‘service is universal’.

Now it has also emerged that Harry and Meghan had ‘absolutely, no question’ wanted to retain the positions they had lost.

A source said: ‘They do respect the decision but they always made clear they were committed to doing the roles.’

It comes after the Sussexes hit back at the Queen with their own statement via trusted media partners such as their biographer Omid Scobie, and in a thinly-veiled dig said: ‘We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.’

Meanwhile royal author Penny Junor said the couple’s response ‘sounds petulant’ and described it as ‘two fingers at the institution – the men and women that run it’.

She added: ‘I don’t think it would be to the Queen because I imagine they think the Queen is being advised, which she is.’

Ms Junor described the conclusion to Megxit as the final step in a troubled divorce proceedings, following on from Harry and Meghan quitting as senior working royals last year.  

‘It does draw a line. It’s hurtful but every divorce is hurtful. This is the decree absolute,’ she said. 

Ms Junor added that the conclusion to Megxit could act as a blueprint for future spares to the heir.

‘I do think it’s very sad because we have now definitely lost Harry and Meghan – two very popular people who bought something more special.

‘Harry and Meghan are obviously very upset, but I’m not quite sure what they expected.’

Their decision to quit royal life indefinitely came a month before the March 31 review of their life in LA, which has seen them strike multi million-pound deals with Netflix and Spotify this past year.

Relations were tested this week after Harry and Meghan announced a bombshell CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey which is expected to pore over the couple’s sudden departure from the Firm.

Only a few days earlier they used a black-and-white photograph of them lying on the grass at their £11million California home to reveal Meghan was pregnant. 

But royal experts said the couple had ‘crossed the red line’ by walking away from the monarchy and, with Prince Philip now preparing to spend his fourth night in hospital, left the Queen with no choice but to seize control. 

In a rare statement she confirmed their eight military roles and patronages were being revoked and redistributed to ‘working members of the royal family’. 

As a rollercoaster week of royal drama reached a crescendo: 

• It was announced that Prince Philip, 99, will remain in hospital over the weekend and into next week but is in ‘good spirits’;
• Organisations started cutting ties with Harry and Meghan after they were stripped of all their royal patronages;
• Others with private patronages such as the Invictus Games and Smart Works reaffirmed their links with the couple;
• Royal experts claimed the two statements released by Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes highlighted the ‘deep divisions’; 
• Business continued as usual for other members of the Firm, with the Duke of Cambridge meeting volunteers in the vaccine rollout on Zoom. 

When Harry and Meghan revealed their intention to step down as senior royals on January 8 last year, it sparked a major royal crisis and weeks of wrangling between the households to thrash out the terms of their departure.

A historic ‘Sandringham Summit’ paved the way for an agreement whereby the couple would be allowed to strike out on their own in America but would no longer use their HRH titles.

This new arrangement would be reviewed a year on, in March 2021 in an annual Megxit review that left the door open for a potential return to frontline duties for the Sussexes.

But an early decision has been taken by the couple to rule this out.

It first emerged in a statement from Buckingham Palace at 12.01, which said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.

‘Following conversations with the Duke, the Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.

‘The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by the Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.

‘While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family.’

A statement was issued about three minutes later at 12.04pm by a spokesman for Harry and Meghan and released to their trusted partners in the media such as their biographer Omid Scobie.

It said: ‘As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role. We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.’ 

Experts compared the strikingly different tones of the two statements and said it showed the Queen’s determination to stamp her authority. 

Royal biographer Angela Levin said the Queen was a ‘patient woman’ but that she was ‘devoted to her sense of duty’ and the protection of the royal family. 

She said: ‘I’m not in the least surprised. I think there’s been a lot of rumours that the Queen would do this.

‘The Queen as we know is devoted to her duty and to her country…she loves her children and being a grandmother.

‘But in the end her sense of duty is more important than grandchildren or children or great grandchildren.

‘She wants to keep them close as a family, but they cannot push their luck too far.’

Royal commentator Robert Jobson, author of the forthcoming book Prince Philip’s Century, told MailOnline: ‘It is a sad but inevitable consequence of Harry and Meghan’s decision to quit the royal family and live in America as private individuals that they are effectively now out in the cold.

‘They took a decision that they no longer wanted to commit full time to serve the Queen and monarchy, but felt they still had a role to play.

‘I am afraid after a year in which the Queen hoped the dust would settle, which left the door open should they change their minds, the Queen, on advice, has decided that the door has to be firmly shut.

‘Her Majesty’s decision gives clarity to a confusing situation and in my opinion the only course she could take. But there is a cool and hidden anger there too in her statement.’

BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said: ‘I sense a real sense of exasperation in these statements on both sides.’

He added: ‘There’s almost an unspoken sentence which doesn’t appear in the statement after that: ‘A life of public service like I have led, like my husband has led at the age of nearly 100, like the rest of your family continue to lead but which you have decided to opt out of.’

‘Of course they’re ‘saddened’, as the statement says, they’re deeply disappointed I think with how matters have turned out.

‘And then the Sussexes’ statement which concludes with these couple of phrases ‘we can all live a life of service. Service is universal’.

‘Isn’t there just a sense there of thumbing their noses, ‘don’t tell us how to lead our lives’. Harry I think will now perhaps finally realise the implications of the decision that they have taken, that it is not possible to do both – to have one foot in the Royal Family, and another foot outside.

‘That is what the Queen has insisted on and that is what this statement from Buckingham Palace means.’ 

The Duke and Duchess are together being stripped of eight royal roles and patronages. 

Within minutes of the announcement, these organisations released their own statements confirming they had parted ways with the Sussexes. 

England Rugby said: ‘We would like to thank Prince Harry for his time and commitment to the RFU both in his position as Patron and Vice Patron. The RFU has greatly valued his contribution to promoting and supporting the game.’ 

The Rugby Football League, of which Harry was also a patron, tweeted: ‘The Rugby Football League thanks The Duke of Sussex for his time, care and commitment in supporting Rugby League at all levels in recent years – from the children’s game to the Challenge Cup, the England teams and RLWC2021.’

And the National Theatre, of which the Duchess of Sussex was a patron, tweeted: ‘The National Theatre is very grateful for the support offered by the Duchess of Sussex throughout the course of her patronage.’ 

The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust also thanked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their support following the news the couple are returning their patronages to the Queen. 

Meanwhile the Duke of Edinburgh was today spending a fourth day in hospital for ‘observation and rest’ after being admitted earlier this week after feeling unwell.

Philip was described as being in ‘good spirits’ after he walked unaided into King Edward VII Hospital in London on Tuesday evening, on the advice of his doctor.

Buckingham Palace has said admitting the 99-year-old royal was a ‘precautionary measure’. There were no reports of visitors arriving at the private hospital, but the duke is known for his ‘no fuss’ attitude. 

Philip, who turns 100 on June 10, is in hospital for an undisclosed reason, although it is not coronavirus-related.

It is understood a doctor was called after Philip felt unwell for a short period and he was taken to hospital by car, where he walked in unaided as a non-emergency admission.

Philip has been spending the latest lockdown with the Queen at Windsor Castle and in January they both received Covid vaccinations. It is understood the decision to admit him was taken with an ‘abundance’ of caution. 

He last had a spell in hospital when he spent four nights at the King Edward VII in December 2019, where he was treated for a ‘pre-existing condition’ and discharged on Christmas Eve. 

On Monday, it was confirmed this week that Harry and Meghan had agreed to a ‘wide-ranging’ interview with Oprah Winfrey. It is believed the programme could be recorded at some point this week. 

The Sussexes did not tell the Queen in advance that they were planning the interview – but are keen to avoid upsetting the monarch during their chat, it has been claimed. 

A royal source said that because the couple were no longer working royals, any decisions taken with regard to ‘media commitments are matters for them’.

The source added that the Sussexes were ‘under no obligation’ to inform the Royal Household of the interview, which was announced by CBS in a press release.

Meghan and Oprah are friends and near neighbours in California, with Oprah attending the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018 and plugging a range of vegan lattes that Meghan has helped finance.

One source described the interview as ‘one of the most inevitable and, sadly, predictable consequences’ of the ‘Megxit’ saga.

Harry will also feature in the 90-minute show. It will air next month on CBS and the couple will discuss their move to the US. 

It will be the first time the pair have spoken publicly about their bombshell decision to leave Britain and step down from their working roles in the Royal Family. 

Harry and Meghan sparked a major royal crisis when they dropped the bombshell that they wanted to quit as senior royals on January 8 2020.

They released a shock statement, without warning the monarch, saying they intended to step down and become financially independent, but still fully support the Queen – a dual role which in the end was unworkable.

The Sussexes were fresh from a six-week break in Canada when, the day after their first royal engagement of the decade at the Canadian High Commission in London, they declared they had chosen to ‘carve out a progressive new role’ within the monarchy.

It followed a problematic year amid a rift between Harry and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge. 

Harry and Meghan’s plan for a combined role of earning their own money and doing royal duties would have led to accusations they were profiting from the monarchy.

Buckingham Palace reacted quickly, warning publicly that the decision was complicated.

The Queen convened a summit at Sandringham with the Prince of Wales, William and Harry, plus key royal advisers, to find a way to solve the crisis.

In the end, the couple were faced with a hard Megxit – and on March 31, less than two years after Meghan became a member of the royal family, they stepped down as working royals completely and stopped using their HRH styles.

 

What the Royal statements say, and what they REALLY mean: How ‘deeply disappointed’ Queen’s 12.01pm announcement and Harry and Meghan’s ‘rude’ 12.04pm response reveals two ‘VERY different attitudes to a life of service’

By Mark Duell for MailOnline

The two statements issued by Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle three minutes apart today laid bare the ‘deep divisions’ between the Sussexes and the rest of Royal Family, royal experts said today.

The Palace referred to the Sussexes in a statement issued to all the media at 12.01pm as ‘much loved members of the family’ and said it was ‘saddened by their decision’ in failing to return as working royals.

It also revealed the Queen had ‘written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service’.

But Harry and Meghan hit back in their own statement three minutes later, saying they ‘remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world’, adding: ‘We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.’

This statement was issued by their spokesman at 12.04pm only to their trusted media partners such as royal biographer Omid Scobie, the author of Finding Freedom, who was among the first to post it on Twitter.

Speaking to MailOnline this afternoon, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said of the phrase ‘much loved’ in Buckingham Palace’s statement: ‘I think this means that Harry in particular, is very dear to the Queen.’ 

Speaking about the word ‘saddened’, he added: ‘Obviously there is disappointment by their decision not to return, though this was inevitable. Whereas it is Meghan who has undoubtedly been the driving force in this, Harry has changed and they are a united couple in this decision.’

And of the Sussexes’s reference to service being ‘universal’, Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘The way the Sussexes see the world is different. They are less formal. It indicates to their former patronages that they are very unhappy to lose official links with them.’  

Royal commentator Robert Jobson, author of the forthcoming book Prince Philip’s Century, told MailOnline: ‘It is a sad but inevitable consequence of Harry and Meghan’s decision to quit the royal family and live in America as private individuals that they are effectively now out in the cold.

‘They took a decision that they no longer wanted to commit full time to serve the Queen and monarchy, but felt they still had a role to play.

‘I am afraid after a year in which the Queen hoped the dust would settle, which left the door open should they change their minds, the Queen, on advice, has decided that the door has to be firmly shut.

‘Her Majesty’s decision gives clarity to a confusing situation and in my opinion the only course she could take. But there is a cool and hidden anger there too in her statement.’

He added that the fact they released the statement while Prince Philip is recovering in hospital is ‘remarkable too and speaks volumes’.

Mr Jobson continued: ‘The Palace statement makes the distinction between Crown and Family. The Queen acknowledges that they are loved as members of her family. But that does not hide the fury over their decision give an interview to Oprah that will inevitably open up old wounds.

‘The interview is clearly the straw that broke the camel’s back. What astonishes me is Harry and Meghan’s frankly rude response.

‘They seem hell bent on undermining the Queen’s decades of duty and service, and that of the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales as well as other working royals, with their flippant and petulant remark.

‘To say they remain committed to ‘duty and service to the UK and around the world and adding that ‘we can all liver a life of service and that service is universal’ is simply rude.

‘It is almost laying down the gauntlet to the Queen and the Royal Family, implying their brand of modern royalty is better.’

He said that Harry’s title the Duke of Sussex, a royal dukedom, and his position in the line of succession should also be removed.

Mr Jobson added: ‘I feel that should be for members of the Royal Family who are committed to and working for the institution. It is not, after all, about personalities.

‘I feel sorry for the Queen, but also for The Prince of Wales – who must be torn emotionally by his son’s rogue behaviour – and Prince William who now has to go forward bearing a much greater load, he had hoped to share with his brother.

‘The Sussexes seem only concerned with their feelings and how events impact on them.

‘Harry, who served in the Armed Forces with distinction, is understandably upset at losing his honorary titles and military associations and patronages. But what did he honestly expect?

‘Being a member of the royal family is a life time commitment. It comes with great privileges but also great responsibilities.

‘Harry and Meghan have decided to walk away from the royal family and meeting those responsibilities. It is a price they have to pay.

‘Harry and Meghan talk a lot about respecting the Queen. It’s time they showed it with their actions not just empty words.’

And BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell told the BBC News Channel today: ‘I sense a real sense of exasperation in these statements on both sides.

‘The statement from Buckingham Palace issued at midday after a conversation ‘with the Duke of Sussex, the Queen has written, confirming it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service’.

‘There’s almost an unspoken sentence which doesn’t appear in the statement after that: ‘A life of public service like I have led, like my husband has led at the age of nearly 100, like the rest of your family continue to lead but which you have decided to opt out of’.

‘Of course they’re ‘saddened’, as the statement says, they’re deeply disappointed I think with how matters have turned out. And then the Sussexes’ statement which concludes with these couple of phrases ‘we can all live a life of service. Service is universal’.

‘Isn’t there just a sense there of thumbing their noses, ‘don’t tell us how to lead our lives’. Harry I think will now perhaps finally realise the implications of the decision that they have taken, that it is not possible to do both – to have one foot in the Royal Family, and another foot outside. 

‘That is what the Queen has insisted on and that is what this statement from Buckingham Palace means.’

Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘The statement from Buckingham Palace about Harry and Meghan’s future status and Harry and Meghan’s response highlights very different attitudes to the concept of service. 

‘The original statement from the Palace last January marking the Sandringham Agreement, was accompanied by a warm personal statement from the Queen. 

‘Here the Palace clearly feels that being based in California, with the commitments they have made and will make to Netflix, Spotify, the Harry Walker Agency and their non-profit charitable organization, Archewell, is incompatible with retaining royal patronages. 

‘The Sussexes reply makes clear that they disagree and the tone of the statement shows that they strongly disagree.’

Mr Fitzwilliams also told MailOnline it was ‘enormously sad’, adding: ‘The Sussexes lasted less than two years as senior working royals and no one expected them to return. However, it was thought possible that they might retain Meghan’s patronages and, most particularly, Harry’s military links which mean so much to him. 

‘As a veteran of two tours of duty in Afghanistan, who found solace in the army during the years after his mother’s tragic death, and also as the founder of the enormously successful Invictus Games, he will feel that he has lost a large part of his life, owing to the choice he has made as to with whom and how that life is to be lived.

‘The royal family have not forgotten how brutally they were treated when the Sussexes announced they were stepping back last January and caused a crisis which led to the Sandringham Agreement though they made clear they were not happy with that either.

‘These are deep divisions and the forthcoming 90-minute interview with Oprah is being given by the couple to a worldwide audience against this background. 

‘The discussions which have led to today’s announcements may well not have amiable. However, what the Sussexes choose to reveal of their royal life on Oprah in front of a global audience, may make for extremely uncomfortable viewing for the royal family.’ 

It comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were stripped of their prestigious patronages, with their decision to walk away from the monarchy and move to the US to pursue personal and financial freedom coming at a cost. 

Harry will lose his roles as Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving.

The decision came after Harry held talks with his grandmother the Queen and other senior royals ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Sussexes formally stepping down as working royals on March 31.  

The full statement from Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty the Queen that they will not be returning as working members of the royal family.

‘Following conversations with the duke, the Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.

‘The honorary military appointments and royal patronages held by the duke and duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of the royal family.

‘While all are saddened by their decision, the duke and duchess remain much loved members of the family.’

And the spokesman for Harry and Meghan said: ‘As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role. 

‘We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.’ 

The patronages cutting their ties with Harry and Meghan: From the National Theatre to the RFU, organisations confirm their roles have ended – within minutes of the Queen’s bombshell statement

Organisations today started severing ties with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they was stripped of all royal roles and patronages.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have told the Queen they will not be returning to frontline duties following their year outside the Firm.

Buckingham Palace said their decision meant ‘it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service’.

A statement said: ‘The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by the Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.’  

Within minutes of the announcement, organisations released their own statements confirming they had parted ways with the Sussexes. 

England Rugby tweeted: ‘Prince Harry will be stepping down from his role as RFU Patron. We would like to thank Prince Harry for his time and commitment to the RFU both in his position as Patron and Vice Patron.’

‘The RFU has greatly valued his contribution to promoting and supporting the game.’

Only this month the Duke recorded a video for England Rugby to mark the 150th anniversary of the first international match against Scotland. 

He also holds the same role with the Rugby Football League, which this afternoon parted ways with a tweet. 

It said: ‘The Rugby Football League thanks The Duke of Sussex for his time, care and commitment in supporting Rugby League at all levels in recent years – from the children’s game to the Challenge Cup, the England teams and RLWC2021.’

Meghan’s patronage of the National Theatre, which she was awarded by the Queen in 2019, also came to an end.

In a statement the organisation said it was ‘very grateful’ for her support and commended her championing of its work.

She will also lose her patronage of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and has to give up her role as vice-president of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

She keeps her two private patronages: Smart Works and animal charity Mayhew.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust – only founded in 2018 – of which the Duke and Duchess were president and vice-president respectively said it was ‘lucky’ to have had their support.

The trust said in a statement: ‘The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust exists to support young people around the world who are delivering practical help to those who need it most.

‘We have been very lucky to have had the keen support and encouragement of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in our formative years.

‘They have enabled us to make fast progress and have helped us to take the organisation to readiness for its next phase. We are glad that they remain in our circle of supporters.’

It added: ‘Our focus, as always, is on the young people we work alongside. We will be pressing on with vigour to help them reach even more people with the essential services they provide.’

‘They have enabled us to make fast progress and have helped us to take the organisation to readiness for its next phase.

‘We are glad that they remain in our circle of supporters. Our focus, as always, is on the young people we work alongside. We will be pressing on with vigour to help them reach even more people with the essential services they provide.’ 

Harry is also no longer patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust.

The role was on a three-year term, which was renewed twice, covering nine years. It came to an end in January, and it was decided it would not be renewed.

The Invictus Games, which was the brainchild of the Duke, released a statement confirming he would stay as its patron, as it was not a royal role.

It said: ‘We are proud to have The Duke of Sussex as our Patron. The Invictus Games was founded by him, it has been built on his ideas and he remains fully committed to both the Games and to the Invictus Games Foundation.’ 

He also retains the following private patronages or presidencies: African Parks, Dolen Cymru, the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, MapAction, Rhino Conservation Botswana charity, Sentebale, and WellChild.

It is not yet known whether Harry will retain his two other rugby-related patronages of the Rugby Football Union All Schools Programme and the Rugby Football Union Injured Players Foundation. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit as senior working royals in March 2020 to earn their own money in the US, where they have signed deals with Spotify and Netflix estimated to be worth more than £100million.

Stepping down as working royals also means the couple, who now live in an £11million mansion in Montecito, California, will not be able to hold on to their military, Commonwealth and some other patronages.

The decision was made after conversations between the Duke of Sussex and members of the Royal Family.

The Sussexes, who announced on Sunday that they expecting their second child, are poised for their ‘intimate’ interview about their lives with chat show queen Oprah Winfrey on March 7.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.

‘Following conversations with the Duke, the Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.

‘The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by the Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.

‘While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family.’

A spokesman for Harry and Meghan said: ‘As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role.

‘We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.’