Harry stepping down as a royal family member

[kittykatkitty]

Just read this on their instagram page.
They plan on becoming private citizens

They didn’t tell ANY of their family.

Unforgivable.

For all the lovely people calling for them to be stripped of their titles - Harry can't be stripped of his title, it is his by right of birth.

The queen became heir to the throne at 11? queen at 26 I think? The DoE gave up his career, his home country, his family and even his name and has been a f/t working royal ever since.
Margaret had a lot of negative press, Diana, Fergie, Andrew, Sophie, Camilla all had negative press. So did Kate.
Meghan isn't unique.
Its not the royal family's fault that she was unprepared. Kate had a 10 year courtship. Meghan and Harry could easily have waited a few more years and eased Meghan into the firm.

Margaret had a lot of negative press, Diana, Fergie, Andrew, Sophie, Camilla all had negative press. So did Kate

Says a lot about the public doesn’t it.

The whole title thing is ridiculous but if you aren't a full time Royal doing whatever royals do why would you even want a title.

Not very modern is it?

But then I would do away with all titles as find them silly in this day and age, rather like the concept of a monarchy.

On their new website Harry and Meghan say that they will continue to use Frogmore Cottage – with the permission of the Queen – as their official residence in the United Kingdom.

I'm a bit confused. I thought I read that the Queen hadn't been informed of their plans.

Completely agree mrscampbellblack

Here’s the new SussexRoyal.com website explaining Harry & Meghan’s finances

So basically, they are ditching the Sovereign grant so they can be «financially independent Royals»
It does however say that Prince Charles funds 95% of their income through the Duchy of Cornwall.
So is Prince Charles going to tell them to «do one» and fund themselves?
I think this boils down to the split between William & Harry.
Within a decade; William will be Prince of Wales, so there is unlikely to be Duchy of Cornwall funding for the Sussexes.
The monarch has the Duchy of Lancaster.
The Sussexes are only going to be able to be subsidised as long as Charles is alive. They are cashing in now.

They also state that they are « Internationally protected people» so they are entitled to Tax payer funded security.
Well quite frankly; they need to start reimbursing the Metropolitan Police for the cost if guarding them, with the proceeds of The Magic Money tree which apparently is indigenous to North America.

I suspect that their break away was a result of them saying they wanted this. The whole go away and have a think. Then the rift with his brother which was reportedly nothing to do with Meghan full stop, then all this with Prince Andrew which would put even more focus on them. I think Harry is just fed up with it all, I have got that impression during several interviews lately, especially after they had the baby.

They have plenty of money and could make plenty more I am sure, so we will see what happens. I think she has had terrible press coverage, she cannot do anything right. I do think there is racism in that but also the fact she was American as the press have never been keen on that. I can't blame them. I didn't used to mind the RF but all this with Andrew has made me feel it is time we did away with the whole thing.

Well that was badly written, I meant can't blame Harry and Meghan for wanting to leave, especially if things are as bad with William and Harry as is now being reported

I would imagine they will have highly lucrative careers as ‘celebrities’, free from the constraints of the Royal Family yet still associated.

For me what will be interesting is how far they will really step back and how much they still trade on being Royal for their new 'independent' work. I think they've underestimated The Firm, there'll be a closing of ranks especially as it's reported they were blindsided by the announcement. The Firm 'owns' their titles, If they try to commercialise on being the Duke and Duchess and the royal connection there will be a long running series of further rifts, but if they are just Harry and Meghan is that enough?

Yes they'll be celebrities and richer than most - but in terms of making more money if organisers can't say 'event hosted by his royal highness...' would they pay as much for 'just' event hosted by Harry? Can they actually still wield influence as just Harry & Meghan or will it be a series of commercial sponsorships like Zara and co.

Funnily, I'm surprised to find myself disappointed. I'm not really that bothered about Royals, they sort of are just there in the background but I find myself wishing the 'fab four' had worked out.

I don't think the title is theirs by birth.
The monarch can decide who gets one and decide not to give one.
They don't automatically get one.
I think its more tradition than anything.
As I said, I really hope the queen calls their bluff and rescinds their titles and their income gets reduced further if not removed completely.

If there stepping back as senior royals, they don't need titles and certainly don't need an 'official residence'. The statement says to be that they're stepping back from royal life but not life in the public eye. Surely if you hate living in intense scrutiny, you'd covet privacy? It sounds like they want to have their cake and eat it.

I don't think Harry has ever enjoyed the royal role. I find Megan insincere and she will probably like to seen as spearheading this change. Their a young family and think it will benefit little Alfie

If they are going to take not a single penny from the Sovereign Grant then they won't be doing any official royal engagements

That's what pays for those engagements

Well quite frankly; they need to start reimbursing the Metropolitan Police

Always makes me laugh when I see comments like this. Like Queenie's really gonna listen to some self-righteous minion on MN!

Good luck to Haz n Meg but get rid of the lot of 'em I say! And don't start that President Blair or Trump crap - at least we could then vote them out. We're lucky with Queenie - imagine King Trump! We'd be stuck with him for life!!

Coupled with the rather terse response from BP and the mention that it is in early stages I'm assuming that what Harry and Meghan wanted and what the Queen et al would agree too are two very different things.

Perhaps they wanted 'ABC' and the queen agreed to A but not the other two and they have jumped the gun and tried to force HM and PC's hands into agreeing with what H&M want so that the RF is drawn into another bonfire in the media.

is not drawn **

I don't think the title is theirs by birth.

@strictlymomdancing The Sussex title isn't but the Prince one is. I think that's what the PP was saying. As the grandson of the monarch Harry is automatically a prince.

The Queen won't remove the Sussex title imo

Only the Sussex title can be removed. As Grandson of the monarch on the male line Harry is automatically entitled to be HRH Prince Henry so he'd stay as Prince Harry

Meghan would become HRH Princess Henry in the style of PRincess Michael of Kent. That would instantly become Princess Meghan in the press

The royal family needs to be slimmed down - it is a gilded cage and prevents them from leading rewarding meaningful lives. Living off the public purse denies them the purpose and worth of earning their own living and necessarily brings scrutiny with it. It's not a comfortable place to be.

I have some sympathy for them but I think they made some mistakes too. If you are paid for by the public moaning about scrutiny and then not living the values you espouse is courting trouble.

I would like to point out one inaccuracy in some of the comments here. When she died Diana - who had mercilessly courted the press as her marriage failed - was the subject of a lot of negative press. She was cavorting around the Med on yachts, with Dodi and her rich friends. There was a lot of criticism of her sponging off the public purse on endless holidays and calls that she should be stripped of her HRH.

Sadly I think Harry is vulnerable and hurt but maybe fell in some of the same bear traps as his Mum. There are very few people in the public eye who court that much public attention and don't have the media turn on you. So some distance and restraint is better risk management,

William and Kate have no choice but to conform. A life of exceptional caution and care never to say anything political or controversial to be anodyne and bland in everything. They dutifully toe the line - and even they faced a backlash and sneering gossip over the Rose Cholmondleigh gossip.

It's a dreadful life. Meghan and Harry's childrens would be better offf it they are brought up in household that earns its own living and lives out of the limelight. Sadly I'm unsure how the Sussex's will earn their own living without trashy commercialisation. Maybe they will prove us wrong - good luck to them. But they probably would have got more help and support from the Firm if they had planned it all out in advance and with their assistance. Afterall, his Dad wants the notion of a slimmed down royal family so he had some responsibility to help.

It will be interesting to see what they mean by a private living. In my view what gets described as private income comes from their inherited ownership of huge estates of land and property. Sure Charles has worked to commercialise the Duchy brand but how do they draw the line between the public purse and private income? Hmmmm.

MissEliza: "Surely if you hate living in intense scrutiny, you'd covet privacy?"

Yes, I was thinking that but you worded it better than I could have. It's like the press intrusion will be more palatable to them if they're allowed to earn loads of money and pick and choose what duties they want to do - so it can't have been that bad, could it have?

Fuck that. If I'm going to have to continue to sub them they can damn well visit the odd hospital or whatever. Suck it up, buttercup. We all have to work.

I don't blame them at all - who wouldn't prefer to side step all the drudgery of duty/ small town engagements, gutter press, but continue with the trappings of lifestyle and luxury, engagements of choice and personal charitable interests. They only appear to be giving up 5% of their income (for now) while maximising personal 'earnings '. They will have much more freedom to do/ go/ live where they please, with anonymity when they want (not seen any pap shots of when they had their break in Canada). I cant see Meghan wanting complete anonymity at all.

However, i do feel disappointed. It's a sad reflection on this country who will be seen else where as insular and racist. It's sad for William and Kate - a 'slimmed down ' monarchy will end up being more or less just them in a few years depending on the health of older Royals. And they will be lost as an asset to this country should they leave - yes they cost some money, yes it annoyed me when they moaned about not thriving etc, but they probably bring in more £ and cultural capital than they take