Meghan returns to Canada as Queen seeks solution

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The Duchess of Sussex has returned to Canada to join her son amid discussions over the future role for her and Prince Harry in the Royal Family.

Meghan and Prince Harry had been in Canada over Christmas with baby Archie.

It comes as the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge asked staff to find a workable solution after the couple announced they will step back as senior royals.

The Royal Family was said to be “hurt” at the couple’s statement.

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.

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.

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Media captionPrince Harry and Meghan: Who else has taken ‘early retirement’?

On Thursday, BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the Queen had been in touch with the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge.

They all directed senior staff to work with the Sussex household and government to find a solution within days.

It was later confirmed to the BBC that Meghan had left for Canada, said BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond.

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Media caption“People should back off”: The public react to Prince Harry and Meghan stepping back

Our correspondent said Buckingham Palace was “blindsided” by the couple’s statement.

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

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.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Buckingham Palace said: “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

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

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Meghan said the family’s time in Canada was “incredible”

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”.

Former actress Meghan, who is American, lived and worked in Toronto during her time starring in the popular US drama Suits, and she has several Canadian friends.

‘The manner of their leaving is breathtaking’

The talk in some quarters is that the Sussexes’ hand was forced by the impressive scoop of the Sun newspaper on Wednesday.

If that’s the case – and the couple’s media strategy is certainly unconventional – it goes some way to explaining why there are many more questions than there are answers.

But how did they get here?

Those who have always had it in for Meghan put it down to her. But that’s a long way from the truth.

Harry’s royal path has always been hard.

There was the long shadow of his mother’s early death, the media spotlight on his youthful mistakes and the extraordinary interest that his relationships and then his marriage sparked.

Unlike his older brother Prince William, Harry has never grown used to media, and still visibly bridles at the cameras and the questions. And he is obviously – visibly – bored by the ceremonial side of the job.

In short, he has long wanted out. And together with the woman he loves he now thinks he has found a way. But the manner of his leaving – their leaving – is breathtaking.

Read more from Jonny.

The pair 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.

The Sussexes’ new charity is expected to be global, linked to Africa and the US, rather than domestic – and will have a commitment to female empowerment.

It was revealed in December 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.

Sentebale, the charity co-founded by Prince Harry, issued a statement saying that, as its patron, he has been a “passionate advocate” for its work, adding: “We know that support will continue.”

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Media captionWhat would Canadians think about welcoming the royal couple?

Financial independence

In stepping back as senior royals, Harry and Meghan have announced they will no longer receive funding from the Sovereign Grant.

The Sovereign Grant is public money – £82m in 2018-19 – which pays for the cost of official royal duties, in exchange for the surrender by the Queen of the revenue from the Crown Estate.

The couple said the Sovereign Grant paid for 5% of their official office from 2019, with the remaining 95% being funded by Prince Charles through his income from the Duchy of Cornwall.

The couple are classified as “internationally protected people”, which means they must have armed security provided by the Metropolitan Police.

They will retain Frogmore cottage, the Grade-2 listed property in Windsor that cost taxpayers £2.4m to renovate, as their official residence so they have a “place to call home” in the UK.

Reaction to the couple’s announcement from royal commentators has been mixed, with numerous questions over what their future royal roles will entail.

Bryony Gordon, a Daily Telegraph journalist who knows and has interviewed the couple, suggested their decision could be linked to their mental health, after becoming a “punching bag” for a “misogynistic and racist” nation.

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Media captionMeghan spoke to ITV as part of a documentary last year

Graham Smith, a spokesman for Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, said Harry and Meghan’s decision “raises questions about the monarchy’s future” and will prompt taxpayers to ask how the couple’s extra security and overseas lifestyle will be funded.

“This really is wanting to have your cake and eat it,” he said. “They have said they will dip in and out of royal duties as it suits them but won’t stop taking public money until they find other sources of income.”

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said “we must continue to celebrate and support” the contribution the Royal Family makes to the UK, adding that it has an “important role in public service”.

However, Labour leadership candidate Clive Lewis said he believes there should be a referendum on the future of the Royal Family, adding: “A lot of people would like to see the monarchy scaled down.”

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption A happy memory of Canada? The moment in 1991 when Prince Harry and his brother were reunited with their mother in Toronto during an official visit

In October last year, Meghan 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: “Though we have continued to put on a brave face… I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been.”

And in an ITV documentary last year, Meghan, who was born in the US, described motherhood as a “struggle” due to intense interest from newspapers.

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

It will see them “engage with grassroots media organisations and young, up-and-coming journalists”.

The National Union of Journalists criticised the plans, saying the move appears to try and “prevent the media from functioning and compromising the ability of journalists to do their jobs, which is completely unacceptable”.

Do you have any questions about Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back as senior royals?

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Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51055074

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