When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first decided to step back from senior royal duties, the pair had hoped to forge a unique ‘half-in, half-out’ position in the Firm.
On January 8, 2020, the couple sent shockwaves around the world when they released a statement on their @sussexroyal Instagram that confirmed their plans to ‘carve out a progressive new role’ between the UK and US.
Then, five days after their unprecedented ‘Megxit’ announcement, Her Majesty gathered Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry for notorious peacekeeping talks, soon dubbed the ‘Sandringham Summit’ by the media.
But while Harry was hopeful that the 90-minute meeting at Norfolk’s Sandringham House would produce a desirable outcome for him and Meghan, the Monarch ultimately had the final say.
On January 19, Buckingham Palace released a statement which confirmed that the Sussexes would lose the use of their HRH titles – a far cry from the ‘half-in, half-out’ proposal the pair had initially hoped for.
‘With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty,’ read the statement.
‘The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family,’ it added.
Harry and Meghan’s feelings towards the decision were made clear in a statement released by their spokesperson shortly after: ‘Service is universal.’
On January 19, Buckingham Palace released a statement which confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would lose the use of their HRH titles – a far cry from the ‘half-in, half-out’ proposal the pair had initially hoped for
‘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,’ the statement added.
Harry, who at that stage was sixth in line to the throne, would no longer hold an active royal role and his military titles and patronages would also be removed.
‘Meghan too had zero constitutional importance,’ explained royal author Robert Jobson, while Meghan’s Duchess of Sussex title would now be rendered ‘purely symbolic’.
The couple volunteered to forgo all access to the Sovereign Grant and public cash and would also repay the £2.4million of taxpayer funds used to renovate their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage.