Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for their royal exit, and sharing details of their transition. On Friday, a spokesperson for the pair said they will step down as senior members of the royal family.
In a statement published to their website, they said: “We are pleased to now be able to share with you an update on many of the details agreed at a meeting of the Royal Family in January 2020, which outlines The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new roles, taking effect Spring 2020. We had hoped to be allowed to share these details with you sooner (to mitigate any confusion and subsequent misreporting), but the facts below should help provide some clarification around this transition and the steps for the future.”
They will be financially independent and live a “more independent life as a family” between North America and the U.K., and continue to represent Queen Elizabeth II in a “more limited capacity.” They will no longer use their HRH titles. All of the details will be reviewed again in 12 months.
Harry will continue to be sixth in line for the throne. Harry “will retain the rank of Major, and honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader.” But he will not, “perform any official duties associated with these roles, but given his dedication to the military community and 10 years of service he will, of course, continue his unwavering support to the military community in a non-official capacity.”
Their official royal office will shut down, and their use of the term royal will be strictly limited. In a statement to ET, a spokesperson said: “While the Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organization, given the specific U.K. government rules surrounding use of the word 'royal,' it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organization, when it is announced this Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation.”
However, they insist that the use of the term royal is not exclusively the Queen’s right. In a statement on their website, the Sussexes said: “While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word ‘Royal’ overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ or any iteration of the word ‘Royal’ in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020.”