Harry and Meghan discussion thread

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Danny Baker got sacked yesterday by the BBC for tweeting a photo of a couple holding a chimp youngster by the hand with a caption " Royal baby leaves hospital".

He deleted it following complaints it was racist, claiming he never realised it had racist connotations because "my mind's not diseased". He claims he was comparing the royal family to circus animals in posh clothes.

I would be surprised if he is racist to be honest, but it was one hell of a gaffe if he did it without thinking it would be seen that way.

 

[ElRaja]

So in other words he served his country for years and years in the military before becoming an air ambulance pilot for a while. He got his wings with the RAF in 2008. He served longer than a lot of officers and I respect and admire him for his service.

hes literally done what hes wanted, when hes wanted, its fair enough if you take his career on face value, im far too cynical too tho.

You don’t learn those skills just because you are Royal. It’s tough to do that stuff, I doubt I could.

if you wanted to fly planes or join the army, and your parents were the royals, im 99% certain you would have been able to do it. the point being regardless of your own merits, you would be placed to do whatever you fancied, and eventually you'd learn it.

The Crown Prince is drilled for duty from birth so come across as serious. It’s the second sons who get to party and chase girls, the Andrews and Harrys. Indeed some of the worst Kings have been second sons who were forced to step up, like Richard I and Henry VIII. They were playboys who were not trained for the throne.

the queen is a model professional yet there are numerous stories of her wittier side, she even lets it slip out some times in interviews. for all his follys, even Charles meddling with the spider letters, etc, showed there is something beyond the shallow royal existence he thinks about, even if sparingly. wills has very little personality or depth about him, a cookie cutter prince.

 

[MenInG]

The Duchess of Sussex gave a rare candid interview where she said she struggled with the media attention she'd received as a royal.

In a clip from ITV's upcoming documentary about the duke and duchess' tour of Africa, Meghan Markle told the interviewer, Tom Bradby, that it had become particularly difficult since giving birth to her son, Archie, in May.

When asked how the increased media attention had affected her physical and mental health, Markle said: "Look, any woman, especially when they're pregnant, you're really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging.

"And then when you have a newborn, you know?"

"And especially as a woman, it's really — it's a lot. So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed, it's ..." she said, trailing off.

She added: "Also, thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I'm OK. But it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes."

To this, Bradby asked: "And the answer is, would it be fair to say, not really OK? As in it's really been a struggle?"

"Yes," Markle responded.

Markle's comments came amid her legal battle against the Mail on Sunday, the newspaper that published a private letter she wrote to her father.

Prince Harry released a powerful statement about the lawsuit, saying he had been "a silent witness to her private suffering for too long."

"I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces," he added.

Until now, Markle has been reluctant to speak publicly about her relationship with the press.

Harry also got emotional when talking about their 5-month-old son at the WellChild Awards on Tuesday. He tearfully talked about what it was like to know that he and Markle were having a child before the world found out.

"Last year, when my wife and I attended, we knew we were expecting our first child. No one else did at the time, but we did," he said.

"And I remember squeezing Meghan's hand so tight during the awards, and both of us were thinking what it would be like to be parents one day, and more so what it would be like to do everything we could to protect and help our child, should they be born with immediate challenges or become unwell over time.

"And now, as parents, being here and speaking to all of you pulls at my heartstrings in a way I could have never understood until I had a child of my own."

https://www.insider.com/video-meghan-markle-struggles-with-media-itv-documentary-2019-10

 

[sweep_shot]

The Duke of Sussex has insisted he will "always" protect his family, adding that he "will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mum".

Speaking in an ITV documentary, the duke said he did not want a "repeat of the past".

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex said her British friends warned her not to marry the prince due to media scrutiny.

The royal couple were interviewed by Tom Bradby during their tour of southern Africa in September.

Prince Harry, 35, was asked if he worried whether his wife may face the same pressures in the spotlight as his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.

He said: "I will always protect my family, and now I have a family to protect.

"So everything that she (Diana) went through, and what happened to her, is incredibly important every single day, and that is not me being paranoid, that is just me not wanting a repeat of the past."

Following recent newspaper reports of a rift between the Sussexes and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry said he and his brother, Prince William, have "good days" and "bad days".

He added: "We are brothers. We will always be brothers.

"We are certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him as I know he will always be there for me."

The prince later described his mental health and the way he deals with the pressures of his life as a matter of "constant management".

He said: "I thought I was out of the woods and then suddenly it all came back, and this is something that I have to manage.

"Part of this job is putting on a brave face but, for me and my wife, there is a lot of stuff that hurts, especially when the majority of it is untrue."

The Africa tour was Prince Harry, Meghan and their baby son Archie's first official royal tour as a family.

The duchess, who married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in May 2018 and gave birth to their son Archie this year, spoke about her experiences as a new royal since that marriage.

Harry has learned to be diplomatic. But his words about his brother confirm that, perhaps unsurprisingly given the way his life has changed, they are not that close anymore. Of course, there will always be love. But things have changed.

Meghan is a superb communicator and her message was controlled, carefully thought out and brilliantly delivered. "I never thought it would be easy," she said of tabloid newspaper coverage, "but I thought it would be fair". She's clearly horrified at her portrayal over the past few months. The British pride themselves on being fair and her use of that word stung.

"Has it been a struggle?" pressed Tom Bradby. "Yes," said Meghan. Harry acknowledged that he still struggles with his mental health. The couple are feeling and talking about the pressure and Harry now sees the shadow of his mother in every camera, every headline. This was a very unhappy story.

Which is odd. Because they are much-loved and - with Harry's energy and Meghan's back story - continue to touch the parts that other royals don't. But now there is a long, low rumble of discontent.

The US-born former actress said adjusting to royal life had been "hard", adding that she was not prepared for the intensity of the tabloid media scrutiny.

"When I first met my now-husband my friends were really happy because I was so happy," she said.

"But my British friends said to me, 'I'm sure he's great but you shouldn't do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life'."

Meghan also told the programme that that it was a "struggle" being pregnant and a new mother amid the intense interest from newspapers.

The documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey aired on ITV on Sunday evening.

As the tour the documentary followed came to an end, the duke and duchess both brought legal actions against the press.

Meghan is suing the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters.

Prince Harry filed his own proceedings at the High Court against the owners of the Sun, the defunct News of the World, and the Daily Mirror, in relation to alleged phone-hacking dating back more than a decade.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50119219.

 

[The Viper]

Prince William 'worried' about Harry after ITV interview

The Duke of Cambridge is "worried" about his brother after he talked about his mental health in a TV documentary, a Kensington Palace source has told the BBC.

Prince William is said to be hoping the Duke and Duchess of Sussex "are all right" after they told an ITV documentary they were struggling.

The palace source said there was a view the couple were "in a fragile place".

Kensington Palace had no comment on the ITV film, which aired on Sunday.

The documentary followed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their tour of southern Africa earlier this month.

In interviews, the couple both said they were struggling with the intense scrutiny from elements of the British tabloid press.

The palace source played down suggestions that Prince William was "furious" with his brother after the documentary aired on Sunday.

It followed Prince Harry's admission in the film that he and William have "good days" and "bad days".

Asked about media reports of a rift between the brothers, the Duke of Sussex said that "inevitably, stuff happens" as a result of "this family being under the pressure that it's under".

He added: "We are brothers. We will always be brothers.

"We are certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him as I know he will always be there for me."

BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said the rest of the Royal Family "wouldn't be at all happy" about the ITV interview but the couple "clearly felt now was the time that they wanted to clear the air and put their case directly to people".

It was clear, he added, that the princes' paths were "diverging, particularly when it comes to the media" with William "going out of his way" to try and bring them in, while Harry was still "furious" with them.

'Not really OK'
Meghan, 38, said in the documentary that adjusting to royal life had been "hard".

"When I first met my now-husband my friends were really happy because I was so happy," she said.

"But my British friends said to me, 'I'm sure he's great but you shouldn't do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life'."

Asked by ITV's Tom Bradby if it was fair to say she was "not really OK", the duchess said: "Yes."

Prince Harry, 35, described his mental health and the way he deals with the pressures of his life as a matter of "constant management".

He said: "I thought I was out of the woods and then suddenly it all came back, and this is something that I have to manage.

"Part of this job is putting on a brave face but, for me and my wife, there is a lot of stuff that hurts, especially when the majority of it is untrue."

Challenging stigma

The royal brothers previously campaigned together to help open up conversations about mental health.

In 2017, they and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, took part in a charity fundraiser for their Heads Together initiative, which they set up to challenge stigma around mental health.

In May this year, the Cambridges and the Sussexes teamed up to launch a text messaging service for those experiencing a mental health crisis.

The couples later announced their charitable foundation would split, but vowed to continue working together on issues like mental health.

Prince Harry's comments about the pressure of media scrutiny come as he and his wife pursue legal actions against the press, with Meghan suing the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters.

The duke filed his own proceedings at the High Court against the owners of the Sun, the defunct News of the World, and the Daily Mirror, in relation to alleged phone-hacking dating back more than a decade.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50128683

 

[MenInG]

Prince Charles is 'furious' that his sons' reported feuds have 'completely undermined' and 'utterly annihilated' his own work abroad, a royal source has claimed.

The Prince of Wales, 70, arrived in Japan on Tuesday for a two-day trip to attend the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, after which he met with the Welsh national rugby team in Tokyo.

He is also set to unveil his two-part documentary, Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall, on Thursday, which is a celebration of the Prince of Wales' 50th working year as the Duke of Cornwall.

But Charles is reportedly 'absolutely furious' that an apparent row between Prince Harry and the Royal Family has 'completely undermined the work he is doing' abroad, a source told the Sun.

In an ITV documentary aired on Sunday, the Duke of Sussex acknowledged there had been deepening tensions between himself and William following months of speculation about the state of the brothers' relationship.

Palace aides had repeatedly denied reports of a rift between the Sussexes and the Cambridges, who had once been championed as the Royal family's 'Fab Four'

But when asked how much of the speculation was true, Harry pointedly refused to deny a falling out.

In the programme, Meghan Markle also claimed she is 'existing, not living' as she described struggling with the pressures of royal life and the 'damaging' impact of a British stiff upper lip.

Any tension in the Royal Family was said to be furthered on Tuesday when a source close to Harry and Meghan claimed the royal couple had 'single-handedly' modernized the monarchy.

A royal insider told the Sun: 'The Prince of Wales is very busy at the moment touring Japan, including a visit with the Welsh rugby team. But the point is that this whole kerfuffle has completely undermined the work he is doing, just as it undermined the work Prince William and Kate were doing in Pakistan.

'To do it to your brother is one thing. To do it to your father and paymaster is a completely different matter altogether.'

The source added that Charles is 'worrying about Harry in the same way he did Diana', insisting the Prince of Wales will 'defend his son' publicly.

In Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, Prince Harry refused to deny a rift between himself and Prince William.

He told Tom Bradby: 'Part of this role, part of this job and this family being under the pressure it is under, inevitably stuff happens.

'But look, we are brothers, we will always be brothers. We are certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him and, as I know, he will always be there for me.

'We don't see as much as we used to because we are so busy but I love him dearly and the majority of stuff is created out of nothing. As brothers, you have good days, you have bad days.'

The source added that Charles is 'worrying about Harry in the same way he did Diana', insisting the Prince of Wales will 'defend his son' publicly

Royal commentator Phil Dampier, who wrote 'Royally Suited' about Harry and Meghan's romance, said senior royals 'from the Queen down' are concerned and branded their comments in their new ITV documentary 'very serious'.

Jonny Dymond, the BBC's royal correspondent, said: 'I think they (the royal family) will be pretty horrified actually.'

While royal commentator Penny Junor described the couple's actions as a 'big mistake'.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Phil Dampier, who has written about the royals over three decades, said: 'I hope on their six week holiday they reflect very carefully on what they do next.

'They had turned a corner with the Africa trip but all the good works were overshadowed by this attack on the press. 'They are either being badly advised or ignoring advice.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...d-feuds.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ico=taboola_feed

 

[The Viper]

Harry and Meghan to step back as senior royals

Spoiler

Harry and Meghan have said they intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and become financially independent.

The royals said they also plan to divide their time between the UK and North America but will continue to "fully support" the Queen.

In a groundbreaking statement shared on Instagram, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.

"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen."

The royals added that they now "plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages".

Harry and Meghan continued: "This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.

"We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support."

On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had resumed their royal duties after taking a family break in Canada.

Crowds, and dozens of photographers, were out on Trafalgar Square as Prince Harry and Meghan visited Canada House in Central London to meet Janice Charette, High Commissioner in Canada to the UK and staff.

Following the news of Harry and Meghan stepping back as senior royals, Sky News' royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said it shows "the pressure that they were under" and that Harry is in a "different phase of his life".

She added that Harry has always had a "difficult relationship with the press since his mother died", and that now he has a wife and son that he wants to protect, it has "changed the dynamic of what he wants to do as a working royal".

Towards the end of last year, both Harry and Meghan admitted they were struggling with the headlines and attention from British tabloid newspapers in a documentary which aired on ITV.

Meghan also revealed her friends told her not to marry Harry, warning her she "shouldn't do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life".

In an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Meghan said not many people had asked if she was okay and admitted living in the public eye as a new mother had been a "struggle".

As part of the documentary detailing Prince Harry and Meghan's 10-day tour of Africa, the Duke of Sussex also opened up about his grief following his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales' death.

He said he felt considerable pressure being part of the royal family in the spotlight, and every camera flash takes him back to his mother's death.

"I think being part of this family, in this role, in this job, every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash, it takes me straight back, so in that respect it's the worst reminder of her life, as opposed to the best," he said.

Prince Harry answered a question about rumours of a rift between himself and the Duke of Cambridge, saying he and his brother are "on different paths" and have "good days" and "bad days".

Last year appeared to be a particularly tumultuous time for the royal couple, as they also faced criticism for using private jets over the summer.

Harry responded to criticism at the launch of an eco-friendly tourism initiative, saying there are occasions he needs to keep his family safe.

"I spend 99% of my life travelling the world by commercial. Occasionally there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe," he said, after being asked about his travel.

Shortly after, Harry and Meghan announced that they were suing the Mail on Sunday after a private letter which the couple claim was published in an "intentionally destructive manner" to "manipulate" and to "further the divisive agenda" of the newspaper.

In a strongly worded statement, the duke said his wife had become a victim of the British tabloid press and denounced what he called their "ruthless campaign".

Harry and Meghan's decision comes after a particularly difficult time for the Queen.

Sky's Rhiannon Mills added: "Only at the end of last year we had Prince Andrew stepping back from public duties. It does feel like the Royal Family are in turmoil at the moment, and this is not helpful".

Harry married Meghan, a former actress who starred on the hit TV show Suits, in May 2018 and the couple welcomed their son, Archie, in May last year.

https://news.sky.com/story/harry-and-meghan-to-step-back-as-senior-royals-11904052

 

[AdamM97]

Good for them.

And then you have dimwits like Piers Morgan acting like a Pakistani aunty by accusing Meghan ”for splitting up Harry and William”.

 

[MenInG]

The Royal Family are said to be "hurt" at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's announcement they will step back as senior royals.

Prince Harry and Meghan did not consult any senior royal before making the statement, the BBC understands.

Buckingham Palace was "blindsided", said BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond, as talks about their future had begun but were in very early stages.

The Palace said there were "complicated issues" to work through.

Spoiler

In their statement on Wednesday, Harry and Meghan said they made the decision "after many months of reflection and internal discussions".

They plan to split their time between the UK and North America, while "continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages".

"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter," the couple said.

He told Newsnight. "There's a question of security: who provides the security?

"Is it Scotland Yard, as it does provide royalty protection. Is it the Canadians that's going to be asked to provide it? Who is going to pay for it?"

A staging post to leaving the Royal Family?
This is clearly a major rift between Harry and Meghan on one part, and the rest of the Royal Family on the other.

There are far more questions than answers; what will their new role be? Where will they live, and who will pay for it? What relationship will they have with the rest of the Royal Family?

And there's the institutional question. What does this mean for the Royal Family?

It comes just months after Prince Andrew stepped back from his duties after a BBC interview about his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Some might see this as the slimmed-down monarchy that the 21st Century needs.

But Harry and Meghan reached people that other royals didn't. They were part of the reinvention and refreshing of the institution.

We're now in wait-and-see mode as to whether this new model of being a royal can work - or if this is really a staging post for them to leave the Royal Family.

Signs the couple were unhappy with their royal life have been apparent for some months.

In October last year, the Duchess of Sussex began legal action against the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters. The paper stands by its story.

At the time, Prince Harry said his wife had "become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press" after a "ruthless campaign" of "relentless propaganda".

"Though we have continued to put on a brave face... I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been," he said.

In an ITV documentary last year, Meghan, who was born in the US, described motherhood as a "struggle" due to intense interest from newspapers. "Not many people have asked if I'm OK," she said.

On Wednesday the royal couple announced they would be adopting a "revised media approach" from the spring.

As part of the new strategy, published on their website, they will "engage with grassroots media organisations and young, up-and-coming journalists".

They will also pull out of the so-called royal rota system, where journalists and media representatives are given exclusive access to cover royal engagements on the understanding they share the material they gather.

"The current system predates the dramatic transformation of news reporting in the digital age," the couple said.

Harry is sixth in line to the throne - behind Prince Charles, Prince William and his three children.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51043220

 

[Robert]

I don’t blame them at all. The press has treated the Duchess horribly. The Duke and Duchess have to do what makes them happy. The tragedy is that the most popular young Royal - the approachable, smiling combat veteran - who was supposed to restore royalist sentiment is now leaving.

 

[Mamoon]

This whole Royal Family stuff will probably be over with the deaths of Elizabeth, Philip and Charles anyway.

The crown will have minimal power, respect and influence after them.

The children of William are likely to be average joes by the time they are in their 50s and 60s.

The royal family is a hugely important part of British culture and history but nothing lasts forever - they will get a new constitution and Buckingham will purely become a cultural site.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

You can't pick and choose to be a royal. Ironically they are only able to get their dream move to Canada because they ARE Royals. Cry me a river.

 

[Mamoon]

Harry is like a rich Pakistani guy who breaks family tradition and marries against his family wishes.

Blinded by love, he breaks away from his family home and gives up his share of the wealth, but once the dust settles, he reevaluates his choice and wonders if he made the right call by choosing love over family and tradition.

Meanwhile, eventually, the girl also has second thoughts because things did not exactly pan out as she expected.

If I were to make a sadistic prediction, I would say that Harry shall end up following the footsteps of his father, i.e. get divorced.

 

[HitWicket]

You can't pick and choose to be a royal. Ironically they are only able to get their dream move to Canada because they ARE Royals. Cry me a river.

They're splitting their time between Canada and the UK. (Almost) any British citizen can spend 6 months of the year in Canada.

 

[JaDed]

Harry is like a rich Pakistani guy who breaks family tradition and marries against his family wishes.

Blinded by love, he breaks away from his family home and gives up his share of the wealth, but once the dust settles, he reevaluates his choice and wonders if he made the right call by choosing love over family and tradition.

Meanwhile, eventually, the girl also has second thoughts because things did not exactly pan out as she expected.

If I were to make a sadistic prediction, I would say that Harry shall end up following the footsteps of his father, i.e. get divorced.

Probably true about the situation , irrespective Royals will always remain powerful more than an average person thinks.

 

[Mamoon]

Probably true about the situation , irrespective Royals will always remain powerful more than an average person thinks.

Yes because of their wealth and ancestry, but their “royalty” will surely be watered down in the future.

 

[Abdul]

Hmm, wonder if they're planning on moving to Toronto or Vancouver.

 

[in_cutter]

Hounded when they were in. Hounded when they are out.

 

[HussainRx8]

Hmm, wonder if they're planning on moving to Toronto or Vancouver.

Out of the two, Vancouver. Toronto is a cesspool.

 

[Abdul]

Out of the two, Vancouver. Toronto is a cesspool.

"Cesspool." Yeah, right.

Vancouver and Toronto are pretty much the same, except the scenery. Vancouver does have beautiful scenery.

 

[MenInG]

The Duchess of Sussex has returned to Canada to be with her eight-month-old son Archie as the Royal Family look for a "workable solution" over the future roles of Harry and Meghan.

It comes after the couple announced they will step back as senior royals.

Harry and Meghan had resumed their royal duties in London on Tuesday after enjoying a six-week Christmas break in Canada.

A spokeswoman has confirmed the duchess has now returned to the country to be with Archie, who is said to have stayed there with a nanny.

The Royal Family were said to be "hurt" by Harry and Meghan's decision to issue a personal statement outlining their future lives as financially independent royals who will divide their time between the UK and North America.

A Buckingham Palace source said: "The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge have directed their teams to work together at pace with government and The Sussex Household to find workable solutions.

"Expected to take days not weeks."

It has emerged that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly ignored instructions from the Queen not to go public with their announcement.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's waxworks have been removed from the Madame Tussauds royal family display after their decision to step back from their roles.

The Royal Family is expected to talk to multiple governments over the decision, PA news agency reported, suggesting US and Canadian officials may be involved.

On their new Sussex Royal website, the couple say they are planning to "value the ability to earn a professional income" - something they are not currently allowed to do.

In the statement issued on Wednesday, they said: "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.

"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen."

This would mean they will no longer be able to use the Sovereign Grant - which funds 5% of their costs - but would still be able to receive income from the Prince of Wales through his private Duchy of Cornwall estate.

The couple plan to continue living at Frogmore Cottage - a four-bedroom property in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The cottage underwent a controversial £2.4m refurbishment at taxpayers' expense last year.

The Grade 2-listed building is owned by the Queen. Harry and Meghan want to continue to use the property as a base while they split their time between the UK and North America.

Reports have claimed the Metropolitan Police, which provides personal protection officers for members of the Royal Family, will review security arrangements for Meghan and Harry.

They are classified as internationally protected people, meaning they receive armed security paid for by the government.

The bombshell statement reveals divisions within the British monarchy which has already been rocked by the Duke of York's disastrous television interview about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A YouGov poll on Thursday found that 45% of people supported Harry and Meghan's decision to step back from their roles, while just over a quarter (26%) opposed it.

Nearly two thirds of people (63%) think income from the Duchy of Cornwall for the couple should stop, while just 13% think they should be allowed to keep it.

The poll was of 1,327 people.

Despite their struggles, Harry and Meghan have received several public offerings of support from various celebrities.

Beyonce told them "we love you guys" after meeting them at the European premiere of Disney's The Lion King, alongside her husband, Jay-Z in London in July, 2019.

And after the announcement, Meghan's close friend Jessica Mulroney, a Canadian stylist and TV star, posted a quote attributed to Gina Carey, which said: "A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink."

But a series of commentators have strongly criticised their decision, with public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski saying about the Sussexes "It does feel like a royal couple in exile".

Harry and Meghan's announcement came on the eve of the Duchess of Cambridge's 38th birthday.

Kate celebrated it with husband William and their children - Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and 20-month-old Prince Louis.

https://news.sky.com/story/harry-an...olution-as-duchess-returns-to-canada-11904939

 

[ahsan17]

Out of the two, Vancouver. Toronto is a cesspool.

By that standard, which cities in the world are not cesspool?

 

[WebGuru]

Harry and Meghan wax statues moved away from royal family at Madame Tussauds.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We’ve got to respect their wishes &#55358;&#56631;* <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Megxit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Megxit</a> <a href="https://t.co/mb936VcqRd">pic.twitter.com/mb936VcqRd</a></p>— Madame Tussauds London (@MadameTussauds) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadameTussauds/status/1215338581042122754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[KingKhanWC]

I don’t blame them at all. The press has treated the Duchess horribly. The Duke and Duchess have to do what makes them happy. The tragedy is that the most popular young Royal - the approachable, smiling combat veteran - who was supposed to restore royalist sentiment is now leaving.

Harry is a racist little clown and not the most popular. His wife is a just an attention seeking idiot.

William and Kate are the true Prince and Princess who will be king and queen.

I don't like the Royal family because all men/women should be born equal in 2020 Britain but would rather have Kate and William over Harry and Larry.

Both should declare full removal from the Royal Family, go get a job and stop sponging of taxpayers money! We have food banks and homeless in the country.

 

[Rana]

The Royal men are not very good at selecting female spouses

 

[Nostalgic]

By that standard, which cities in the world are not cesspool?

Vancouver, apparently.

 

[Abdullah719]

Prince Harry and Meghan: Talks 'progressing well' over couple's future

Spoiler

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hope talks over their future roles in the Royal Family can be concluded "sooner rather than later", a source has told PA news agency.

Meetings are said to be "progressing well", with the UK and Canadian governments consulted.

The couple have said they plan to step back as senior royals and split their time between the UK and North America.

Meghan has returned to Canada to join her son Archie amid the ongoing talks.

The family spent Christmas there, before returning to the UK on Tuesday after a six-week break from royal duties.

The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge have asked senior staff to work with the Sussex household and government to find a solution within days, according to BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell.

Speaking about the duke and duchess, a source told PA news agency: "They, like everyone, are hopeful this can all be worked out, sooner rather than later.

"It is in everyone's interest for this to be figured out, and figured out quickly, but not at the expense of the outcome."

Meanwhile, the couple's official Instagram account returned to publicising their appearances.

Pictures were posted showing the couple during a private visit on Tuesday to a community kitchen in north Kensington, west London, which cooked meals for families displaced by the Grenfell Tower fire and contributed to a recipe book backed by Meghan.

In their statement on Wednesday, the duke and duchess also said they would be adopting a "revised media approach", engaging with "grassroots media organisations" and using their Instagram account, which has more than 10 million followers, to "personally share moments in their lives directly with members of the public".

The Royal Family was said to be "hurt" at the couple's announcement about their plans to step back as senior royals.

Palace sources have told BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond that Prince Harry and Meghan did not consult any other royal about making their personal statement.

There had been talks within the Royal Family about the Sussexes' future - but they were at an early stage, he said.

In their announcement on Wednesday evening, Prince Harry and Meghan revealed they intend "to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family, and work to become financially independent".

They plan to split their time between the UK and North America, while "continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages".

The decision came "after many months of reflection and internal discussions", they added.

Despite the couple's decision, Harry will remain sixth in line to the throne.

Former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter said attempting to be "half in and half out" of the Royal Family had been tried before 30 years ago by the Earl and Countess of Wessex and "it didn't work".

The pair both experienced difficulties pursuing careers in the private sector and are now full-time "working royals".

"You're either a royal or you're not a royal - you can't have one leg in one camp and another leg in another camp," Mr Arbiter said, adding that Prince Harry had a number of senior roles which could not be done in a "half-hearted way".

US President Donald Trump told Fox News he thought the announcement from Harry and Meghan was "sad".

He said: "I don't want to get into the whole thing, I just have such respect for the Queen, it shouldn't be happening to her."

Last October, Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight.

After returning to the UK after their six-week break in Canada on Tuesday, Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, visited Canada's High Commission in London to thank the country for hosting them and said the warmth and hospitality they had received was "unbelievable".

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51074844

 

[MenInG]

This whole thing shows what they mean by "there is no such thing as bad publicity"

 

[MenInG]

Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention to step back as "senior" royals and live part-time in North America, Canada has been aflutter.

Will the royal couple make the great North their home? Where will they live? What will they do?

While we do not know where they intend to settle, it was confirmed to the BBC's royal correspondent that Meghan had left for Canada.

She and the prince had been in the UK to make their announcement, following a six-week Christmas holiday in greater Victoria, on Vancouver Island.

Spoiler

Our correspondent said Buckingham Palace was "blindsided" by the couple's statement.

If they do choose Canada as their home, here's why we shouldn't be surprised.

The pair were spotted hiking in the woods outside of Victoria over the holidays, according to Canadian media.

Musician David Foster, who is originally from the area, told the Daily Mail that he helped arrange for them to stay on the secluded estate of a friend. His wife Katherine McPhee went to secondary school with Meghan in Los Angeles.

Report
Since then, international media has flocked to the city amid speculation that the couple may decide to settle there semi-permanently.

"There's media from across the country and around the world, and from your country from across the pond that are already looking to set up shop here," Scott Fee, the news director at local CHEK-TV, told BBC Breakfast.

"So the tabloids are en route if not already here."

A deluge of press is probably precisely not what the royal couple was hoping for. Last October, Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight, and they hinted at it in their recent announcement regarding their decision to live part-time in North America.

"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter," read their statement, which was posted on the couple's official Instagram on 8 January.

What about Toronto?
Meghan has had close ties to Canada for many years, although she is an American citizen by birth and her mother lives in California.

She lived in Toronto for six years while filming the television series Suits. During their courtship, Prince Harry visited her in her Seaton Village home, and she joined him at the 2017 Invictus Games, which were held in the city.

Her ties to Toronto did not sever when she moved across the pond.

The Mulroneys, Meghan Markle and her life among Toronto 'royalty'
One of her closest friends, Jessica Mulroney, lives in Toronto with her husband, Ben Mulroney, the son of a former prime minister. Their three young children were even a part of Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding party.

It has been speculated, but not confirmed, that baby Archie stayed with the Mulroney clan this week while Meghan and the prince flew to the UK.

What can Canada offer?
By and large, what Canada can offer the royal couple is a degree of privacy and informality that they are not afforded in the UK.

Although Canadian media has certainly taken a keen interest in their exploits here, Canada just doesn't have the same tabloid culture or paparazzi as Britain or the US. The country also has a lot more secluded spots where they could, if they wanted to, hide away from the flash of bulbs.

Don't think creepy log cabin in the woods - think luxurious estates on pristine lakes surrounded by pine trees, located on dirt roads that would make it difficult for caravans of photographers to follow their trail.

It is telling that there was not a single paparazzi photograph of the couple during the six weeks they were on Vancouver Island.

Report
They certainly wouldn't be the first royal to make Canada their home.

Prince Andrew, Prince Harry's paternal uncle who has come under scrutiny since the arrest and suicide of Jeffrey Epstein, spent six months on exchange at Lakefield College School, and maintained close ties with the school's community after leaving.

Princess Patricia of Connaught, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, lived in Canada with her parents when her father, Prince Arthur, was appointed the governor general. There, she was greatly beloved and her portrait was even used on the one-dollar banknote issued in 1917.

Indeed, prior to 1952, all of Canada's governors-general were part of the British aristocracy, which has led some to speculate that Prince Harry could carry on the tradition.

How they want to do their own thing
In 2018, writing for the National Post, Tristan Hopper suggested that the Duke of Sussex should consider taking on the role. It's appointed by the Queen on the advice of the prime minister, to be her representative in the Canada.

"One of the chief pitfalls of the job of governor general is that it takes smart, ambitious Canadians and essentially imprisons them in a palace with strict instructions to do what they're told," he wrote.

Prince Harry had lived his whole life in an unreal bubble of security and privilege where even the slightest partisan nod could yield a week's worth of Daily Mail headlines. If there's anyone who knows how to be clothed in immense power that they never, ever use, it's the House of Windsor."

This week, a poll conducted for the Postmedia newspaper chain by Dart and Maru/Blue Voice Canada also suggested that 60% of Canadians would approve if he were to become governor general.

One thing the royal couple might need to consider is immigration laws. Canada is part of the Commonwealth and Prince Harry's grandmother the Queen is the head of state so although he will see her face on the currency, he's not a citizen.

As a Briton, the prince is entitled to spend up to six months a year as a visitor in Canada - anything longer than that and he would have to apply for a visa. As an American citizen, the same rules apply for his wife.

What do Canadians think?
The couple have come under fire in the UK after the BBC revealed the palace was not informed of their decision to step down from most of their royal duties, and to seek to become financially independent.

World's media split on royal move
Writing in the Daily Mail, Piers Morgan said the couple wants to "keep all the trappings of royal life without any of the hard, boring bits, and the right to cash in on their status however they choose".

But Canadian media has taken a decidedly more friendly tone.

In the Globe and Mail, Anne Donahue expressed glee that the couple might be moving to Canada, and called their decision to step away from the royal circus a "fairy-tale ending".

"Meghan and Harry's choice to step back has sparked the type of change in which everybody wins. They've begun to help dismantle an institution that often seems a historical relic. And they're very publicly choosing to stop putting up with the nonsense, on their own dime and in their own way - a power move."

Not everyone is thrilled.

On Friday, the Monarchist League of Canada cautioned Prince Harry and Meghan that "any public support for their desire to occupy a new, hybrid role combining their royal status with more personal freedom could disappear quickly were there to develop a feeling that, even inadvertently, they had in some way showed disrespect to The Queen, whose style is self-effacing and whose watchword is duty."

But by and large, Canadians are pretty chuffed at the idea - and they're willing to sweeten the pot if it will help convince them to stay.

Coffee-and-doughnuts franchise Tim Hortons offered them free coffee for life.

Report
That promotion led to considerable backlash of its own.

Some of the company's franchises have come under fire over staff wages, and for how they treat homeless patrons, and many took to Twitter to tell Tim Hortons their money should be going to the community, not the Sussexes.

"Wow, talk about tone-deaf. Sort out paying your workers a living wage before you start giving freebies to the rich," tweeted Erin Carson DeWolfe.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51069091

 

[Abdullah719]

Queen and Prince Harry to hold talks over Sussexes' future

Spoiler

The Queen and the Duke of Sussex are to hold talks at Sandringham on Monday to discuss the future roles of Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex.

Palace officials have also told the BBC the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge are expected to attend the meeting.

The Sussexes say they plan to step back as senior members of the Royal Family.

There is no suggestion that a conclusion will be reached at the meeting.

But the BBC's royal correspondent Jonny Dymond says it is hoped that the talks will produce a "next step" on the way to defining the couple's new relationship with the Royal Family - in line with the Queen's wish to find a solution within days.

He added that there were still "formidable obstacles" to overcome in the talks.

Monday's gathering at the Queen's estate in Norfolk follows several meetings and consultations in the wake of the couple's announcement earlier this week.

Posted on their Instagram page, Prince Harry and Meghan said they intended to "step back" as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent.

The Queen, Prince Charles, William and Harry are expected to review a range of possibilities for the Sussexes, taking into account the plans outlined by Prince Harry and Meghan.

If a deal is agreed in the coming days, there is a general understanding that it will take some time to implement.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51077816

 

[MenInG]

The Queen will meet senior royals in Sandringham later to discuss the future roles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry, the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales will all attend the meeting, while Meghan is expected to join the discussion by phone from Canada.

The Sussexes say they plan to step back as senior members of the Royal Family.

Spoiler

BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said a deal "might take time".

It is hoped the talks will produce a "next step" on the way to defining the couple's new relationship with the Royal Family - in line with the Queen's wish to find a solution within days.

Among the issues likely to be discussed are what funding the duke and duchess will receive, whether they will keep their titles, and what royal duties they will continue to carry out.

Prince Charles has returned from Oman for the talks after attending a condolence ceremony following the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.

Prince Harry is understood to be travelling to Sandringham from Frogmore Cottage, his home in Windsor.

In their statement on Wednesday, the couple said they intend to "step back" as senior royals and work to become financially independent.

They also said they plan to split their time between the UK and North America, while "continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages".

Monday's gathering at the Queen's estate in Norfolk - being described as the "Sandringham summit" - will be the first time the monarch has come face-to-face with Prince Harry since the Sussexes' announcement, which was posted on their official Instagram account.

The Queen, Prince Charles, William and Harry are expected to review a range of possibilities for the Sussexes, taking into account plans outlined by the couple.

If a deal is agreed in the coming days, there is a general understanding that it will take some time to implement.

Newspaper reports suggested the couple could conduct a potentially damaging television interview if they were unhappy with the outcome of the discussions.

Broadcaster and friend of the couple, Tom Bradby - who made a documentary with them last year - wrote in the Sunday Times: "I have some idea of what might be aired in a full, no-holds-barred, sit-down interview and I don't think it would be pretty."

In Sandringham later the players will receive a series of options, a range of possibilities. These will be based on the stated aims of Prince Harry and Meghan.

Leaving aside the heady brew of contradictions detailed elsewhere, the balancing of these different aims and demands is hard enough.

Money is a big issue. But so will be the status of the court of Prince Harry and Meghan that emerges.

Maybe a deal comes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. But what are not up for negotiation are service and survival. Both must be observed by Prince Harry and Meghan if they are to remain royals.

But will the couple really agree to the restrictions that service and survival demand?

A deal will probably be crafted - however the direction of travel is one way. Prince Harry and Meghan are looking for the exit.

Meghan is in Canada with her eight-month-old son Archie after flying there amid the ongoing discussions, which have involved the UK and Canadian governments.

She and Prince Harry had been in Canada over Christmas, before they returned to the UK last week after a six-week break from royal duties.

Last October, Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight.

The couple were already preparing to launch their own Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's foundation in June last year.

And in December it was revealed that the couple had made an application to trademark their Sussex Royal brand across a string of items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51086477

 

[Ryw]

Harry and William brand 'false' story about their relationship 'offensive'

The Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge have denied a "false story" in a UK newspaper speculating about their relationship.

A statement on behalf of Princes Harry and William described the story's "inflammatory language" as "offensive".

It comes after a source told the Times the Sussexes felt they had been pushed out by William's "bullying attitude".

The brothers are to meet the Queen and Prince of Wales later to discuss Harry and Meghan's future.

The couple want to step back as senior members of the Royal Family, while also becoming financially independent.

A statement on behalf of Harry and William said: "Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge.

"For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful."
BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond described Monday's meeting as "royal history in the making".

Meghan is expected to join the discussion by phone from Canada.

It is hoped the talks will produce a "next step" on the way to defining the couple's new relationship with the Royal Family - in line with the Queen's wish to find a solution within days.

However, our correspondent said a deal "might take time" to be agreed and implemented.
Among the issues likely to be discussed are what funding the duke and duchess will receive, whether they will keep their titles and what royal duties they will continue to carry out.

The Queen, Prince Charles, William and Harry are expected to review a range of possibilities for the Sussexes, taking into account plans outlined by the couple.

The final arrangement could provide a blueprint for future royal generations, including the Duke of Cambridge's younger children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Monday's gathering at the Queen's estate in Norfolk - being described as the "Sandringham summit" - will be the first time the monarch has spoken face-to-face with Prince Harry since the Sussexes' announcement.

Prince Charles has returned from Oman after attending a condolence ceremony following the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
Broadcaster and friend of the couple, Tom Bradby - who made a documentary with them last year - wrote in the Sunday Times: "I have some idea of what might be aired in a full, no-holds-barred, sit-down interview and I don't think it would be pretty."
In Sandringham later the players will receive a series of options, a range of possibilities. These will be based on the stated aims of Prince Harry and Meghan.

Leaving aside the heady brew of contradictions detailed elsewhere, the balancing of these different aims and demands is hard enough.

Money is a big issue. But so will be the status of the court of Prince Harry and Meghan that emerges.

Maybe a deal comes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. But what are not up for negotiation are service and survival. Both must be observed by Prince Harry and Meghan if they are to remain royals.

But will the couple really agree to the restrictions that service and survival demand?

A deal will probably be crafted - however the direction of travel is one way. Prince Harry and Meghan are looking for the exit.

In their statement on wednesday posted on the couple's official Instagram account, the duke and duchess said they intend to "step back" as senior royals and work to become financially independent.

They also said they plan to split their time between the UK and North America, while "continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages".

Meghan is in Canada with her eight-month-old son Archie after flying there amid the ongoing discussions, which have involved the UK and Canadian governments.

She and Prince Harry had been in Canada over Christmas, before they returned to the UK last week after a six-week break from royal duties.

The couple were already preparing to launch their own Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's foundation in June last year.

And in December it was revealed that the couple across a string of items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services. had made an application to trademark their sussex royal brand.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51086477

 

[MenInG]

The Queen has agreed a "period of transition" in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend time in Canada and the UK.

She said she is "entirely supportive" of their desire for a new role but "would have preferred" them to remain full-time working royals.

She expects final decisions to be made in the coming days, she said.

Senior royals have been in talks about Prince Harry and Meghan's role after they said they wanted to "step back".

In a statement, the Queen said the talks at Sandringham, which also involved the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, had been "very constructive".

"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family," she said.

'More independent life'
"Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family."

She said that it has been agreed that there will be "a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK" after Harry and Meghan "made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives".

"These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days," she said.

The urgent talks were convened after the Sussexes surprised the rest of the Royal Family on Wednesday with a statement expressing their desire for a "new progressive role", where they would be financially independent and divide their time between the UK and North America.

The talks took place as Prince Harry and Prince William issued a joint statement denying "false claims" that their relationship had been damaged by "bullying" on the part of the older brother.

They said that the "inflammatory language" was "offensive" and "potentially harmful", given their support for mental health causes.

This is a remarkably candid and informal, almost personal, statement from the Queen.

Her regret over Harry and Meghan's move is obvious - she would have preferred them to stay in their current roles.

But she also makes clear that they are still royals and that they will be valued in the family as they become a more independent couple.

There are buckets of questions outstanding - on their future royal role, their relationship with the rest of the Palace, on who will pay what (not, the Queen says, the taxpayer), and on how Harry and Meghan will support themselves.

There's still a lot to thrash out and to agree on. Not all of it may become public.

And it looks like the Queen sees this as a process, not an event. She writes of a transition period when Harry and Meghan divide their time between Canada and the UK.

The Queen has asked for decisions to be made over the next few days. But those decisions may well be up for review in the coming months and years.

Historian Robert Lacey told the BBC Radio 4's PM programme the Queen's statement following the meeting was unusually personal, with several references to "my family" and "my grandson".

"It is remarkably hands-on. I mean it may have been processed through officials but this is the Queen, speaking to her people and speaking about her family, and I think coming right through it is the concern she feels," he said.

Instead of using the formal titles of the couple - the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - the Queen simply called them "Harry and Meghan".

How did we get here?

In their statement on Wednesday, posted on the couple's official Instagram account, the duke and duchess said they intend to "step back" as senior royals, spending time in North America, while "continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages".

Why Meghan and Harry have Canada in their sights
It came after an interview last October, when Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight.

The couple were already preparing to launch their own Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's foundation in June last year.

It was revealed in December that the couple had made an application to trademark their Sussex Royal brand for items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51099102

 

[MenInG]

Further talks are needed over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's move to Canada, the country's prime minister has said.

Justin Trudeau said the shape and costs of the plans are still to be discussed.

The Queen has agreed a "period of transition" in which Prince Harry and Meghan will spend time in Canada and the UK.

Spoiler

She said she was "entirely supportive" of their desire for a new role but "would have preferred" them to remain full-time working royals.

In a statement following talks at Sandringham, the Queen's residence in Norfolk, on Monday involving senior royals, the Queen said she expected final decisions to be made in the coming days.

Prince Harry and Meghan's have announced they wanted "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family" and divide their time between the UK and North America.

But there have been questions over who would fund the costs of their security.

Mr Trudeau said most Canadians are "very supportive" of having royals live there, but there are "still lots of discussions to have" over "how that looks and what kind of costs are involved".

He said the federal Canadian government had not been involved "up until this point" about what the couple's move to the country will involve.

Speaking to Global News, a Canadian television network, he added: "There are still a lot of decisions to be taken by the royal family, by the Sussexes themselves, as to what level of engagement they choose to have.

"We are obviously supportive of their reflections but have responsibilities in that as well."

Earlier the Queen said the talks at Sandringham which also involved the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, had been "very constructive".

"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family," she said.

"Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family."

She said it had been agreed there would be "a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK" after Harry and Meghan "made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives".

The urgent talks were convened after the Sussexes surprised the rest of the Royal Family last week with their statement.

They also said they wanted a "progressive new role" within the institution, where they would be financially independent.

Both Prince Harry and Meghan spoke of the difficulties of royal life and media attention in recent months, with the duke saying he feared his wife would fall victim to "the same powerful forces" that led to his mother's death.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51102264

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is "absolutely confident" the Royal Family is going to "sort out" a future role for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Harry and Meghan want to "step back" from being full-time working royals.

Spoiler

Mr Johnson told BBC Breakfast: "I think they'll sort it out all the easier without any commentary from me."

It came as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said further talks were needed over who pays for Prince Harry and Meghan's security.

Mr Trudeau said the funding and shape of the couple's plans to relocate to North America are to be discussed.

The Queen has agreed a "period of transition" in which Prince Harry and Meghan will be in Canada and the UK.

She said she was "entirely supportive" of their desire for a new role but "would have preferred" them to remain full-time working royals.

In a statement following talks at Sandringham, the Queen's residence in Norfolk, on Monday involving senior royals, the Queen said she expected final decisions to be made in the coming days.

The Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry attended the summit. Meghan - who is in Canada - did not participate, according to the Daily Mail and Hello! magazine.

In his first major TV interview following December's general election, Mr Johnson was asked by BBC Breakfast's Dan Walker what he thought of Prince Harry and Meghan's decision to "step back as 'senior members of the Royal Family" and divide their time between the UK and North America.

Mr Johnson said that while "everybody has got an opinion" on the situation, "the Royal Family is one of the great, great assets of this country and I'm sure they will sort it out".

When asked about media intrusion and whether there were any colonial undertones in the coverage of Meghan, the PM said: "I don't think this is helped by running commentary by politicians."

Questions over funding
Among the questions being asked about the Sussexes' future is who will fund their security.

Mr Trudeau said most Canadians were "very supportive" of having royals live there, but there were "still lots of discussions to have" over "how that looks and what kind of costs are involved".

He said the federal Canadian government had not been involved "up until this point" about what the couple's move to the country would involve.

Speaking to Global News, a Canadian TV network, he added: "There are still a lot of decisions to be taken by the Royal Family, by the Sussexes themselves, as to what level of engagement they choose to have.

"We are obviously supportive of their reflections but have responsibilities in that as well."

Earlier the Queen said the talks at Sandringham which also involved the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, had been "very constructive".

"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family," she said.

"Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family."

She said it had been agreed there would be "a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK" after Harry and Meghan "made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives".

The urgent talks were convened after the Sussexes surprised the rest of the Royal Family last week with their statement.

They also said they wanted a "progressive new role" within the institution, where they would be financially independent.

Both Prince Harry and Meghan spoke of the difficulties of royal life and media attention in recent months, with the duke saying he feared his wife would fall victim to "the same powerful forces" that led to his mother's death.

'The Queen's regret is obvious'
This is a remarkably candid and informal, almost personal, statement from the Queen.

Her regret over Harry and Meghan's move is obvious - she would have preferred them to stay in their current roles.

But she also makes clear that they are still royals and that they will be valued in the family as they become a more independent couple.

There are buckets of questions outstanding - on their future royal role, their relationship with the rest of the Palace, on who will pay what (not, the Queen says, the taxpayer), and on how Harry and Meghan will support themselves.

There's still a lot to thrash out and to agree on. Not all of it may become public.

And it looks like the Queen sees this as a process, not an event. She writes of a transition period when Harry and Meghan divide their time between Canada and the UK.

The Queen has asked for decisions to be made over the next few days. But those decisions may well be up for review in the coming months and years.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51102264

 

[Pakistanian]

Monarchies shouldn't exist

 

[LongHorn]

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-double-standards-royal

If someone is old enough to remember when Rooney and C Ronaldo both burst into the scene in 2003-2005, the double standards would be familiar.

Rooney was the golden honest English boy who could do no wrong, while Ronaldo was the foreign fancy dan with no end product

 

[MenInG]

The Mail on Sunday has argued there is a "huge and legitimate public interest" in the Royal Family and its "personal and family relationships", as it published its defence to a legal claim made by the Duchess of Sussex.

Spoiler

Meghan is suing the newspaper and its parent group for publishing a letter she wrote to her father in 2018.

Her claims include misuse of her private information, selective editing of the letter and breach of copyright.

The Mail on Sunday rejects all claims.

Evidence from the duchess's father, Thomas Markle, forms part of the paper's defence.

Meghan visited a women's centre in Vancouver on Tuesday, in her first public appearance since she and Prince Harry said they would "step back" as full-time royals.

The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre posted a photograph of the duchess with staff and visitors on Facebook, with the caption "Look who we had tea with today".

Her visit was "to discuss issues affecting women in the community", the group added.

The duke and duchess say they wish to split their time between North America and the UK and spent Christmas in Canada. The duchess returned there alone on Friday to join their eight-month-old son, Archie - with Prince Harry expected to join her at a later date.

'Elaborate handwriting'
In what BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond described as a "very robust" response from the Mail on Sunday, the paper argued in a court document that members of the Royal Family, including Meghan, "rely on publicity about themselves and their lives in order to maintain the privileged positions they hold and promote themselves".

It said the duchess "did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy that the contents of the letter were private and would remain so".

"There is a huge and legitimate public interest in the Royal Family and the activities, conduct and standards of behaviour of its members," it said.

"This extends not merely to their public conduct, but to their personal and family relationships because those are integral to the proper functioning of the monarchy."

The 44-page legal filing by the Mail on Sunday aims to tackle the duchess' claims one by one:

Meghan claimed she had not courted publicity for her relationship with her father, but the paper says she has not denied authorising her friends to speak about it for an article in a US magazine
The duchess said publishing the letter breached her copyright, but the Mail on Sunday says it was not a protected "original literary work" but a recounting of existing facts
Meghan said it infringed her data rights, but the newspaper says the data was not sensitive and concerned topics she had put in the public domain
Accused of selective editing, the Mail on Sunday says the extracts it released accurately conveyed the tone, content and meaning of the letter
As evidence that it did not infringe her privacy, the paper says the letter was "immaculately copied" in Meghan's "elaborate handwriting", arguing that this care in its presentation meant she anticipated it would be seen and read by a wider audience.

It comes as the Royal Family seek to redefine the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's role after the pair issued their surprise statement a week ago.

The Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry met at Sandringham on Monday to discuss the couple's future, but Meghan did not take part.

A palace official said "in the end it was decided by the Sussexes that it wasn't necessary for the duchess to join".

'Relentless propaganda'
In October, law firm Schillings, acting for the duchess, filed a High Court claim against the Mail on Sunday and its parent company Associated Newspapers over the alleged misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018.

At the time, Harry said he and his wife were forced to take action against "relentless propaganda".

Referring to his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, he said: "I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces."

The legal proceedings are being funded privately by the couple and any proceeds will be donated to an anti-bullying charity.

It is not the first time the royals have taken legal action against the press. In 2017, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were awarded £92,000 (100,000 euros) in damages after French magazine Closer printed topless pictures of the duchess in 2012.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51109538

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dear Harry & Meghan, <br><br>Go and be happy & go and do what you want to do. It’s YOUR life & no one who criticises you understands what you guys want/need to be happy. <br><br>Be free, be YOU!</p>— Kevin Pietersen&#55358;&#56719; (@KP24) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1217338997405560832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[kaayal]

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-double-standards-royal

If someone is old enough to remember when Rooney and C Ronaldo both burst into the scene in 2003-2005, the double standards would be familiar.

Rooney was the golden honest English boy who could do no wrong, while Ronaldo was the foreign fancy dan with no end product

True. These Kate fans were threatened by the popularity that Meghan got. I like Meghan more than Kate.

 

[Abdullah719]

Meghan's father Thomas Markle 'would testify in Mail on Sunday case'

Spoiler

The Duchess of Sussex's father, Thomas Markle, will testify if asked to in the court case against Meghan, the duchess' half sister has said.

Samantha Markle - Mr Markle's daughter from his first marriage - told the BBC: "If he is called, he will come."

New court documents in the case between Meghan and the Mail on Sunday show the paper will use evidence from Mr Markle.

No date has been set for a hearing in the case, which centres on a private letter Meghan wrote to him.

Meghan accuses the paper of misusing her private information, breaching copyright and selective editing.

The Mail on Sunday rejects the claims and says there was "huge and legitimate" public interest in publishing the note.

Documents submitted to the High Court by the paper laying out its defence show much of the evidence it could rely upon comes from Mr Markle.

He was at the centre of controversy in the lead up to Meghan's marriage to Prince Harry in May 2018.

The documents include text messages sent from Mr Markle to his daughter ahead of the wedding.

"The fact that so much of the evidence appears to come directly from him and that he appears to be co-operating with the paper presents at least the possibility of him being called to testify in court against his own daughter," BBC reporter John Donnison said.

The Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday's sister paper, reported on Wednesday that Mr Markle is "expected to be called as a key witness" in the case.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51109538

 

[Ryw]

Jeremy Corbyn shares concerns about 'racial undertones' of Meghan coverage
The Labour leader's office says he "understands how press intrusion can have a negative impact on people and their private lives".

Jeremy Corbyn shares the concerns raised by Prince Harry about the "racial undertones" in the media coverage of his wife Meghan, the Labour leader's office has said.

A spokeswoman said the Labour leader backed the assessment of the Duke of Sussex, who has hit out at media treatment of the Duchess of Sussex.
"Jeremy has commented in the past in relation to Prince Harry and Meghan, about press intrusion and its impact on people and their families and, to use Prince Harry's words as well, the 'racial undertones' in relation to how the media has approached Meghan," she said.
The spokeswoman added that Mr Corbyn had "spoken out" about the issue and "understands how press intrusion can have a negative impact on people and their private lives".

Prince Harry issued a statement through his communications secretary in 2016, hitting out at the "wave of abuse and harassment" the Duchess of Sussex had faced from the media.
He cited the "racial undertones of comment pieces" among his concerns.
The media attention the pair have received since their relationship began is widely believed to be one of the factors behind the decision.
A tumultuous week for the Royal Family saw a summit at Sandringham on Monday.

After the meeting - involving the Queen, Prince Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles - Buckingham Palace announced that Her Majesty agreed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could step back as senior royals and start a "new life" as an "independent" family.

The pair will begin a "transition period" in which they will split their time between the UK and Canada.
In an interview on Tuesday, Boris Johnson declined to answer questions on whether race had played a part in the coverage of Meghan joining the Royal Family.

The prime minister said he was "absolutely confident" that the royals would resolve the issues surrounding Harry and Meghan stepping back - and would do so "much more easily without running commentary from politicians".

Asked about whether media intrusion was a factor, Mr Johnson said: "Everybody has got an opinion but it doesn't mean the problem is helped by politicians weighing in."
Home Secretary Priti Patel dismissed suggestions that Meghan has been subject to racist press coverage.

She told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm not in that category at all where I believe there's racism at all.

"I think we live in a great country, a great society, full of opportunity, where people of any background can get on in life."

Asked if the media had been racist in any way, Ms Patel replied: "I don't think so, no… I certainly haven't seen that through any debates or commentary or things of that nature."
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/jeremy-c...racial-undertones-of-meghan-coverage-11909254

 

[MenInG]

The Duke of Sussex is to carry out his first public engagement since he and the Duchess of Sussex announced they want to step back as full-time royals.

Prince Harry will host the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draw at Buckingham Palace later on Thursday morning.

He will meet representatives of the 21 nations taking part and local children playing rugby.

Spoiler

Meghan and the couple's son Archie are in Canada but Harry will reportedly stay in the UK for meetings next week.

Talks involving the Queen, Prince Harry, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge to discuss the couple's future were held on Monday.

The Queen released a statement agreeing to their wish to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and to split their time between the UK and Canada.

The duchess flew to Canada to join her eight-month-old son Archie ahead of the meeting at the Queen's Sandringham estate.

New pictures show her in Vancouver on Tuesday on a visit to Justice for Girls, which campaigns for teenage girls living in poverty,

The charity said the duchess visited to "discuss climate justice for girls and the rights of Indigenous peoples".

Meghan was also photographed on the same day visiting the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre in Vancouver.

It posted a photograph on Facebook of her with staff and visitors, saying they had talked about "issues affecting women in the community".

It came as a legal document was submitted to the High Court in London by the Mail on Sunday, outlining its response to Meghan's legal action over the publication of an article featuring extracts from a private letter to her father.

Prince Harry's official engagement at Buckingham Palace will see him host the Rugby League World Cup draws for the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments.

Before the draw, the duke - the patron of the Rugby Football League since December 2016 - will watch children from a local school play rugby in the palace gardens.

The world cup tournament runs from 23 October to 27 November 2021 in 17 cities across England, with 16 men's, eight women's and eight wheelchair teams taking part.

There has been speculation Prince Harry would travel to Canada after the Rugby League Cup draw but a source quoted by the Press Association said: "The duke has some meetings here early next week."

On Wednesday evening, Prince Harry launched the next leg of his Invictus Games, for wounded and injured service personnel and veterans, with an Instagram video.

The prince said he was looking forward to an "amazing atmosphere" in host city Dusseldorf, Germany, at the sixth edition of the tournament in 2022.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51129896

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

They're splitting their time between Canada and the UK. (Almost) any British citizen can spend 6 months of the year in Canada.

Then they should give up their royal titles and become the same as the British citizens you are using as an example. Your average Joe isn't going to have his jaunts to Canada subsidised by British tax payers, along with the eye-watering security bills.

 

[HitWicket]

Your average Joe isn't going to have his jaunts to Canada subsidised by British tax payers

My understanding was their intention wasn't for theirs to be either?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

My understanding was their intention wasn't for theirs to be either?

No, they want to retire as senior royals and take a back seat role instead. As far as I am aware, they still expect to be able to have access to royal properties, and in particular their current residence at Frogmore Cottage where they live rent free, and £2.4million worth of upgrades paid for by tax paying public. Scotland Yard has also raised serious concerns about the cost of security which will be ongoing and probably significantly increased due to the need to extend it to cover Canada.

 

[MenInG]

The Duchess of Sussex's half-sister has accused Meghan and Harry of a "gross breach of duty" to the Queen.

Spoiler

Samantha Markle has been a regular critic of the couple since they started dating in 2017, and used her latest media interview to hit out at their dramatic decision to step back as senior royals.

Speaking to ITV's This Morning on Friday, the 55-year-old accused Meghan of being the main driver behind the bombshell announcement and said she was "avoiding accountability".

"From my perception, I feel she did enjoy it when there was the fab four and the photographs of her hair blowing in the wind and the smiling and the contrived British accent," she said.

"But when the public start to criticise the behaviour and expenditure, the tune changed and it became a bit more attribution error, avoiding accountability, flipping the script."

Ms Markle said the couple's criticism of their press coverage, which has led to a legal battle with The Mail On Sunday, was nothing more than "a misplacement of blame to avoid accountability".

And in another salvo, she said Harry and Meghan's treatment of her father was "incredibly wrong and shocking".

Thomas Markle is at the centre of Meghan's legal battle with The Mail On Sunday, which published a handwritten note written by the duchess to her father in August 2018.

High Court documents revealed this week that Mr Markle could even testify against his daughter in a future trial.

'Meghan realised it isn't a fairytale'
Meghan's relationship with her father has been the subject of intense media speculation since Mr Markle missed her wedding as he recovered from a heart attack.

In the weeks leading up to the Windsor ceremony in May 2018, he had also been found to have staged paparazzi pictures around his hometown.

Since then, he and Ms Markle - his daughter from his first marriage - have made several public appearances and appeals for Meghan to speak to him and "end the rift".

The duchess has not responded publicly to their various interviews over the last two years.

She is currently in Canada with son Archie, and has been warmly greeted during a few charity visits this week.

Harry and Meghan spent six weeks over Christmas in Canada and reportedly want to make the country their home as they step back from royal duty and seek to become financially independent.

Staff who help run their Frogmore Cottage home in Windsor will be redeployed elsewhere when the couple are away, despite millions of pounds of taxpayers' money having been sent on the home since they were married.

Harry and Meghan

What do you think about the royal showdown?
Harry is expected to jet back to Canada to be with his wife and son, having carried out what many are speculating could have been his final engagement as a senior royal on Thursday.

He was at Buckingham Palace for the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draw.

https://news.sky.com/story/meghans-...out-at-gross-breach-of-duty-to-queen-11910703

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and will not receive public funds for royal duties, palace says <a href="https://t.co/FGENrvdYAB">https://t.co/FGENrvdYAB</a></p>— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/1218602049102925829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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[MenInG]

Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and will not receive public funds for royal duties, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The couple will also no longer formally represent The Queen.

Spoiler

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they intend to repay £2.4m of taxpayer money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.

The new arrangement comes into effect in spring this year, the palace said.

The statement comes after senior royals held talks on Monday about the future role for the couple, who this month announced they wanted to "step back" as senior royals.

The Queen said following "many months of conversations and more recent discussions" she was "pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family".

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family," the statement continued.

"I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.

"I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.

"It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life."

Buckingham Palace said the royal couple understood they were required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments.

The palace added that they would 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," the statement added.

The palace said it would not comment on what security arrangements would be in place for the royal couple.

The announcement marks the conclusion of talks about the couple's future with senior members of the family and royal aides.

Earlier this month, the pair said they wanted a "progressive new role" within the institution, where they would be financially independent and divide their time between the UK and North America.

Last year, they both spoke about the difficulties of royal life and media attention in recent months.

The duke said he feared his wife would fall victim to "the same powerful forces" that led to his mother's death.

'Unanswered questions'
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said questions remain unanswered from the statement, including what the couple's tax and immigration status will be in the UK and Canada.

Our correspondent said royal officials had not given a clear answer about whether Meghan still intended to gain British citizenship, which would entail her spending a certain amount of time in the UK.

He added: "I think they are feeling their way into this as much as anyone else is" though the couple had achieved their primary goal of being able to live at least part of the time in North America.

Duncan Larcombe, former royal editor of the Sun and author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, said a "scaled down Royal Family" had been "on the cards for some time".

"He is not going to be able to turn off that global fame. He still has an important role to play within the institution, that's probably why these discussions have dragged on a little bit longer than expected," he said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51163865

 

[Savak]

It's the right decision. Unfortunately William had absolute disdain for Meghan Markle and this caused a big rift between the two brothers

 

[Syed1]

Biwi ki khushi ke liyay kya kya paapar bailnay parh jatay hain

 

[Abdul]

Kudos to Harry and Meghan. Both of them certainly aren't cowards.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Kudos to Harry and Meghan. Both of them certainly aren't cowards.

You would have to question their royal credentials anyway. Harry bears more of a resemblance to his mum's friend Major James Hewitt than to Prince Charles, and Meghan was an American tv actress. A clean break from the royal family is probably the right outcome.

 

[Mamoon]

I would go ahead what most of us are thinking but don’t want to say it.

Harry has made a terrible mistake and he will regret it one day.

He should have married a noble English woman and respected his family’s traditions.

 

[irfan]

You would have to question their royal credentials anyway. Harry bears more of a resemblance to his mum's friend Major James Hewitt than to Prince Charles, and Meghan was an American tv actress. A clean break from the royal family is probably the right outcome.

used to think that but he does resemble his grandfather Phillip if you see photos of him in his younger days, also he's got the Windsor/Saxe Coburg Gotha bald patch thing going on and Diana's brother is a ginger too.

 

[minamino]

Meghan Markle is a failed actress anyways. She would get much more coverage now. Looks like she got what she wanted.

 

[Savak]

I would go ahead what most of us are thinking but don’t want to say it.

Harry has made a terrible mistake and he will regret it one day.

He should have married a noble English woman and respected his family’s traditions.

Might be what you are thinking but certainly not the vast majority. It's his life, he is free to marry whoever he desires and he has the right to lead his life as he deems fit. The Royal family life is not for everyone, Harry probably had despised it for a long time and Meghan Markle gave him the opportunity to break free

 

[MenInG]

The Duchess of Sussex's father has accused her of cheapening the royals as she and her husband prepare to step back from their duties.

Thomas Markle's relationship with Meghan has been fraught for several years and he missed her wedding to Prince Harry due to ill health.

Spoiler

Analysts say the couple could easily earn up to £500m in their first year of independence

Now, in an interview with Channel 5 he has added his thoughts on Meghan and Harry to the mix.

"When they got married they took on an obligation, and the obligation is to be part of the royals and to represent the royals," Mr Markle said, saying it would be "foolish" for them not to.

"This is one of the greatest long-living institutions ever. They are destroying it, they are cheapening it, making it shabby - they shouldn't be doing this."

He also called them "lost souls" and saying they are turning the Royal Family "into a Walmart with a crown on".

He and Meghan were close when she was growing up and he is believed to have paid for her university tuition.

But their relationship is fractured now, and Mr Markle could even testify against his daughter in a legal battle, as she is suing the Mail On Sunday for printing correspondence between them.

His comments in the documentary come as Meghan's half-sister Samantha also spoke about the couple's plan to forge a new path.

Ms Markle said: "From my perception, I feel she did enjoy it when there was the fab four and the photographs of her hair blowing in the wind and the smiling and the contrived British accent.

"But when the public start to criticise the behaviour and expenditure, the tune changed and it became a bit more attribution error, avoiding accountability, flipping the script."

Meghan and Harry will still be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but will no longer be able to use their HRH titles and will not receive any money from the public fund.

Though they will maintain private patronages with charities and organisations close to them, none of their visits there will be on behalf of the Queen.

The changes come into play in the spring, and they are expected to carry out some final royal duties before then.

https://news.sky.com/story/meghans-...-and-harry-are-cheapening-the-royals-11912383

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the whole country will want to wish the Duke and Duchess of Sussex well for the future as they give up royal duties.

It came as the Queen went to church near Sandringham in her first public appearance since it was announced the couple were giving up their HRH titles.

In her statement yesterday she wished them "a happy and peaceful new life".

But Thomas Markle, Meghan's father, accused them of "cheapening" the Royal Family.

Spoiler

Speaking briefly to reporters at a summit in Berlin, Mr Johnson said he had been confident the Royal Family would find a way forward for Prince Harry and Meghan, adding: "I think the whole country will want to join in wishing them the very best for the future."

The Queen was met by about 100 well-wishers outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Hillington, Norfolk, where she arrived with the Duke of York.

Announcing the decision over the duke and duchess in a statement on Saturday, she said she was "particularly proud" of how quickly Meghan became one of the family and said she, Harry and Archie would always be "much loved".

The new arrangements, which will begin in the spring, mean the couple will no longer use their HRH titles and will not formally represent the Queen.

HRH, an abbreviation of His/Her Royal Highness, is used as part of the title of some members of the Royal Family.

The duke and duchess will receive no public funds for royal duties and intend to repay £2.4m of taxpayer money used for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage.

The house in Windsor, for which they will pay rent, will remain their family home as they divide their time between the UK and Canada.

Prince Harry and Meghan said they wanted to "step back" from their role as senior royals after both speaking about the media scrutiny.

The duchess is suing the Mail on Sunday for publishing what she says was a private letter to her father, raising the prospect of him testifying against her in court.

In comments for a forthcoming Channel 5 documentary which emerged on Sunday, Thomas Markle said the Royal Family is "one of the greatest long-living institutions ever" and accused the couple of "destroying it, they are cheapening it, making it shabby".

"Every young girl wants to become a princess and she got that and now she's tossing that away," he said. "It looks like she's tossing that away for money."

The announcement about the couple's future comes after they held talks with the Queen on Monday.

The Queen said following "many months of conversations and more recent discussions" she was "pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family".

In its statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family."

BBC royal correspondent Daniela Relph told BBC Radio 5 Live: "When they first issued that statement about what they wanted, (on 8 January) they talked about forging this progressive role within the Royal Family, about stepping back from royal duties. This isn't stepping back, it's stepping away entirely."

She said the question that will "hang over them" for the next year is what their commercial life will look like.

Media caption"Nothing like this has ever happened before" – royal correspondent Daniela Relph explains
Buckingham Palace said the duke and duchess understood they were required to withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments.

"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," it said.

The statement added that the pair would continue to maintain their private patronages and associations - the duke currently holds 16 patronages, including the Invictus Games Foundation, the Royal Marines and the Rugby Football League; and the duchess four - the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, London-based animal charity Mayhew, and women's charity Smart Works.

The Rugby League has said it is delighted Prince Harry would continue as its patron. He held the world cup draw at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

Rhino Conservation Botswana also welcomed his ongoing support.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51168400

 

[Savak]

It's funny how Meghan's father and step siblings have started looking for cheap publicity ever since she got engaged and married to Prince Harry. Before that they didn't even bother to comment about her in public

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

used to think that but he does resemble his grandfather Phillip if you see photos of him in his younger days, also he's got the Windsor/Saxe Coburg Gotha bald patch thing going on and Diana's brother is a ginger too.

Well maybe...

 

[marlonbrowndo]

If I was part of that family I would’ve left too. Good on these 2. The royal family is a living relic of evil, colonialism and white supremacy. Plus Prince Andrew is probably not the only pedophile in this lineage of inbreds

 

[AFM]

I would go ahead what most of us are thinking but don’t want to say it.

Harry has made a terrible mistake and he will regret it one day.

He should have married a noble English woman and respected his family’s traditions.

I completely agree.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Meghan and her husband's kids don't belong to the royalty. She saved them from future embarrassment.

 

[Savak]

Projections indicate that Harry and Meghan can earn up to $500 million outside the Royal family via a potential Netflix docu series deal, speaking engagements, her resuming her acting career etc.

They will actually end up doing well outside the royal family, be able to live a more independent lifestyle. They can comfortably be able to pay for the security, don't know what the fuss is about that

 

[Savak]

Don't get the hate Meghan is getting, she's made him quite drinking, adopt a more healthy diet, take to excercise and made him give up his wild partying days of the past.

She clearly wanted to break the old boring traditional ways and bring change. Too bad the Royal family is unwilling to embrace change

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Don't get the hate Meghan is getting, she's made him quite drinking, adopt a more healthy diet, take to excercise and made him give up his wild partying days of the past.

She clearly wanted to break the old boring traditional ways and bring change. Too bad the Royal family is unwilling to embrace change

If she wanted to break traditional ways, why did she marry into the royal family? She got her scheming claws in and ripped a royal prince right out of Britain in favour of Canada. Prince Charles must feel like giving him a sound thrashing and chucking this meddling woman into the street where she belongs. Never mind her turning her nose up and sniffily declaring she prefers Canada, she should have the choice removed and be deported.

 

[JaDed]

I would go ahead what most of us are thinking but don’t want to say it.

Harry has made a terrible mistake and he will regret it one day.

He should have married a noble English woman and respected his family’s traditions.

Doesn’t matter to us though, always hated monarchy and absolutely despise the British ones, it’s sad they survived so long and will survive thanks to William and Kate now being even more loved.

 

[JaDed]

If she wanted to break traditional ways, why did she marry into the royal family? She got her scheming claws in and ripped a royal prince right out of Britain in favour of Canada. Prince Charles must feel like giving him a sound thrashing and chucking this meddling woman into the street where she belongs. Never mind her turning her nose up and sniffily declaring she prefers Canada, she should have the choice removed and be deported.

Cap what’s wrong with you.. you have been condescending but never sounded like a Grand Daddy of Britain losing his cool.
Do you even care about the royals?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Cap what’s wrong with you.. you have been condescending but never sounded like a Grand Daddy of Britain losing his cool.
Do you even care about the royals?

I don't particularly like the royals as it happens, but I despise fakery. Meghan Markle conned her way into the royal family in my opinion, she never had any respect for it, just saw it as a rung up the ladder.

 

[irfan]

Harry is currently worth £30m largely due to two inheritances he received, one from his mother and one from the Queen Mum who set up a trust about 10yrs before she died thereby avoiding any inheritance tax, he was one of the main beneficiaries, doubt she would have left him all that if she didn't think he was her great-grandson. He could have a very comfortable life with that but think he & his wife want to live the billionaire lifestyle not the millionaire one.

Good luck to them & yes all this criticism of Meghan does have racial undertones despite the protestations of the media wallahs.

 

[Mamoon]

Don't get the hate Meghan is getting, she's made him quite drinking, adopt a more healthy diet, take to excercise and made him give up his wild partying days of the past.

She clearly wanted to break the old boring traditional ways and bring change. Too bad the Royal family is unwilling to embrace change

She is no one to break the old boring traditional ways. I believe her father and bother were right about her. She is an opportunist and it has backfired because she probably didn’t expect to be casted out in this fashion.

There are a few traditions, good or bad, that need to be upheld. The Royal Family did not need a revolution. Harry did not respect his family honor and now he has to live with it.

 

[Mamoon]

Doesn’t matter to us though, always hated monarchy and absolutely despise the British ones, it’s sad they survived so long and will survive thanks to William and Kate now being even more loved.

The monarchy is globally popular only because of Diana. The Royal Family got rid of her but they are cashing on her global popularity.

What a lady.

Every educated 40-50 year old Pakistani woman is basically in love with her and considered her a role-model during her life.

 

[JaDed]

I don't particularly like the royals as it happens, but I despise fakery. Meghan Markle conned her way into the royal family in my opinion, she never had any respect for it, just saw it as a rung up the ladder.

I agree but I think the Royals are fake too, so they kinda gotta case of their own medicine.

 

[JaDed]

The monarchy is globally popular only because of Diana. The Royal Family got rid of her but they are cashing on her global popularity.

What a lady.

Every educated 40-50 year old Pakistani woman is basically in love with her and considered her a role-model during her life.

Not really, Monarchy has been hugely popular, there is a reason why even shows closely related to them succeed(Downton Abbey) , Brits might hate politicians but they love Royals and Royalty..

 

[Mamoon]

I agree but I think the Royals are fake too, so they kinda gotta case of their own medicine.

Fake is not the right word. They are royals after all, and the British society have preserved their royalty. Will it be forever? Most probably not, but I am not sure what is fake about it.

 

[minamino]

The monarchy is globally popular only because of Diana. The Royal Family got rid of her but they are cashing on her global popularity.

What a lady.

Every educated 40-50 year old Pakistani woman is basically in love with her and considered her a role-model during her life.

I think in current times, she wouldn't have been that liked by the audience because she was white.

 

[Mamoon]

Not really, Monarchy has been hugely popular, there is a reason why even shows closely related to them succeed(Downton Abbey) , Brits might hate politicians but they love Royals and Royalty..

I am talking about their global appeal and not how they are viewed in Britain. They are popular worldwide because of the Diana influence. Without her, the world wouldn’t care about them just like they don’t care about other monarchies.

They lucked out on having one of the most revered personalities in the world of her time and they have benefited from her popularity in spite of chucking her out.

 

[Mamoon]

I think in current times, she wouldn't have been that liked by the audience because she was white.

Don’t think so. She was extraordinary charismatic and endearing, but I suppose the white supremacists would have disliked her for the same reasons they disliked her back then.

 

[dildilpak]

I don't particularly like the royals as it happens, but I despise fakery. Meghan Markle conned her way into the royal family in my opinion, she never had any respect for it, just saw it as a rung up the ladder.

Why should Meghan respect the royal family - they are like any other - She married Harry, not his family. If anything, its the royalty & their adherence to irrelevant, out-dated customs which seems fake in today’s society.

Besides Harry is not the heir to the throne, so if he wants to break away from the intense scrutiny of being a royal, well doesn’t that sound normal? If i remember right he always was a bit of an outlier - never was as stodgy as his brother, the heir.