Harry and Meghan No Longer Working Members of Royal Family: Buckingham Palace

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan during their visit to Canada House in London, England, in thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada on Jan. 7, 2020. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/Getty Images)

Prince Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the Royal Family and will not use their His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles, the Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Saturday.

According to a new arrangement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are required to step back from royal duties, including military appointments, and will no longer receive public funds for royal duties. The Sussexes also can no longer formally represent the Queen, though they will maintain their private patronages and associations.

Buckingham Palace said that the Sussexes are willing to repay a Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.

The cost of the refurbishment was £2.4 million ($3.1 million), according to the BBC.

The Queen said in a statement that Meghan and Archie, son of Harry and Meghan, “will always be much loved members of my family” and blessed them.

“It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life,” the Queen said.

Buckingham Palace didn’t comment on the details of security arrangements, but said the need for publicly-funded security will be determined by “well established independent processes.”

The new arrangement will take effect in the Spring of 2020.

The announcements concluded a discussion revealed in a surprising Jan. 8 statement about the couple’s future role in the Royal Family.

The Sussexes expressed the willingness to play “a progressive new role,” become financially independent, and balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America in the statement.

The Queen offered Harry and Meghan support for their plan in a follow-up statement.

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

Here is the full statement from the Queen:

Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am 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.

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. And the full statement from Buckingham Palace:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties.

With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.

The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.

Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly-funded security.

This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020. This is a developing story, check back for more updates.