Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's New Arrangement Gives Them What They Want Most: Freedom.
In the end, it all came down to two statements. The first, sent by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on January 8, announcing that the couple was carving out a “progressive new role” within the royal family; and the second, issued 10 days later from Buckingham Palace, announcing that they are not.
When the Sussexes outlined their ideas for an innovative "working model" on a their newly-launched website, sussexroyal.com, it immediately raised a slew of questions. It also became apparent that what they desired—roles that can best be described as "half in and half out" of the royal family—had not been signed off by "the firm." So, against the backdrop of unrelenting coverage, the royal family sat down to negotiate Harry and Meghan’s future.
They hoped for solutions within "days," and, somewhat miraculously, they found some. The outcome? Harry and Meghan did not get exactly what they wanted, but it is very clear where their priorities lie. In a new model which will take effect this spring, the couple are giving up the use of their HRH titles and their roles as working royals. Harry will lose his official military appointments and his recently-announced role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador. They will not receive Sovereign Grant funds and will pay back ￡2.4 million of public money already spent renovating Frogmore Cottage, their home in Windsor. They will retain their private patronages. But they have got the one thing that clearly matters most to them: their freedom.
Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (as they will be known moving forward) are now expected to spend more of their time away from the UK than in it. With Meghan and Archie currently in Canada and Harry expected to join them soon, it appears that the North American country is likely to become their main base. They have not yet struck any commercial deals with their new foundation, but would be free to do so once they cut ties as working royals—however, it is not yet known whether they will still use Sussex Royal as their brand name. They have said they will "continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty" in any future endeavors, but the royal family and Buckingham Palace will have no oversight over any deals the Sussexes may make.
In many respects this is a sad ending. It’s the end of Prince Harry’s life as working royal—a role he grew up expecting to carry out. It’s the end of Harry and Meghan representing the Queen on the world stage with their powerful ability to galvanize a young global audience. It may even be (although one would hope not) the end of the close brotherly bond between Harry and William. The word abdication sounds so dramatic (at sixth in line to the throne Harry was never going to be king), but it feels like a seismic moment for the British monarchy.
Yet for Harry and Meghan, this is a new beginning. The start of a life, in which they are in control. In astonishing personal statements, the Queen has made it clear that she supports their decision.
There has been much written and discussed about whether Harry feels sad or conflicted about this choice. Certainly, he and Meghan did not get the outcome they initially wanted. He gave little away during an appearance at Buckingham Palace before the British media on Thursday, as he paraded before the press pack that he and Meghan have made it clear they want nowhere near their new life.
“How are the discussions going on your future?” Royal correspondent Emily Andrews asked. According to another journalist, he laughed out loud.
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