It’s the end of ten days of crisis in Buckingham. Prince Harry Mountbatten-Windsor and his wife, Meghan Markle, will renounce their royal highness and cease to receive public funds, the British Palace announced on Saturday January 18, after their decision to renounce their status as active members of the Royal family. "They will no longer fulfill royal obligations" and "Can no longer formally represent the queen", adds the press release.
The text specifies that the couple has agreed to the reimbursement of certain past expenses, in particular for the renovation of their Windsor cottage, west of London. The work had cost more than £ 2 million, which had received media criticism.
In a personal statement, Queen Elizabeth welcomed the fact that"A constructive solution for my grandson and his family" has been found "After several months of discussions". "Harry, Meghan and Archie will remain very dear members of my family", she underlines. thankful " challenges " that they had to face, submitted to "To intense observation" of their actions, the queen claims to support "Their wish for a more independent life".
"Make a transition"
On January 8, the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, second son of Diana and Prince Charles, had caused a stir at Buckingham Palace by announcing his desire to become, with his wife, " financially independent ” and give up most of its public commitments. In a press release, the spouses, aged 35 and 38, said that after " many months of internal reflection and discussion, we have chosen to make a transition this year, and to gradually build a new role within the institution. "
Meghan is currently in Canada, in the Vancouver area, where she returned after spending Christmas holidays with Harry and their son Archie. The couple decided to take an extended vacation after opening up in a documentary about their struggles with the media exposure. A former actress, the 38-year-old Métis American lived for seven years in Toronto, where she participated in the filming of the series. Suits. It was also in this city that the couple had publicly displayed themselves for the first time in 2017.
" The story repeats itself "
The loss of this title recalls the fate of her mother Lady Diana, who had also lost her royal highness status after having divorced Prince Charles in 1996. And just as her son now wishes to do, she had kept the patronage of several charities.
However, the couple’s story had started like a fairy tale, with the tabloids hailing Meghan’s arrival as a breath of fresh air for the royal family. They were quick to turn on her with vitriolic items, decking her out with the nickname "Capricious duchess" (Duchess Difficult).
In response to criticism, Harry, 35, sixth in succession to the British throne, filed a series of complaints in early October against the Daily Mail and The sun, accusing them of violating his privacy. He then said he feared that " The story repeats itself ": "I lost my mother and now I see my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces".
In recent days, the Queen and her family have worked with specialists on the practical aspects related to this desire for emancipation. The changes will take effect next spring, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Saturday.
