

Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Major news for royals fans: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have decided to step down from their royal duties. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared the news on Instagram Wednesday afternoon, explaining that the decision would enable them to raise their son in the way they feel is best and focus on the launch of their new charity.
Read their statement below:
“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. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We 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. 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.”
According to royal reporter Chris Ship, this essentially means that Meghan and Harry are resigning from official responsibilities.
A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)
A photo posted by on
Royal reporter Omid Scobie later clarified how Meg and Harry will work with the media, stating that they will no longer participate in the Royal Rota system and will continue to share information from their Instagram account, @SussexRoyal. You can find out exactly what that means here.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan confirm that they are stepping back as senior members of the royal family and will divide their time between the UK and North America. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/D2iAs71rWcJanuary 8, 2020
It's unclear what this will mean regarding the amount of official public appearances the Duke and Duchess will participate in, but it is clear that this has been a very thought-out decision from the duo. However, it may have come as a surprise to some members of the royal family. BBC's royal correspondent Jonny Dymond wrote: "BBC understands that no other member of the Royal Family was consulted before Harry and Meghan issued their personal statement tonight, the Palace is understood to be ‘disappointed.'"
The Queen's office also seems to have a slightly different take on it. Buckingham Palace said in a statement, "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
Related Stories
Meghan Markle Is Glowing In a Camel Coat
Meghan Markle Was Spotted Hiking in Canada
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Rachel Epstein is a writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York City. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the site’s day-to-day editorial operations. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. She also launched and managed the site’s virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. Offline, she’s likely watching a Heat game or finding a new coffee shop.
-
It’ll Be Usher—and Kim Kardashian?—Headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show Next Year
“It’s an honor of a lifetime,” he said.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Princess Kate Achieves “Superhero Status” for Holding Her Own Alongside Prince William and Princess Anne in Podcast Appearance, Expert Says
It’s a revelation of “how far she has come as one of the key power players in the Firm.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Royal Expert Says Prince Harry Turned Down King Charles’ Invitation to Join Him at Balmoral
“For Harry, this was a missed opportunity.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Princess Kate Appears More Confident Than Prince William When on Appearances Without the Other, Body Language Expert Says
It’s the same pattern with King Charles and Queen Camilla, too.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Meghan Markle is a Huge Fan of This Academy-Award Winning Actress—and Apparently Really Wants to Work With Her
Good news? The admiration is mutual.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
George, Charlotte and Louis Will Be Laden With Gifts as Prince William Returns From New York
He was handed so many souvenirs for the little ones.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
From a Run in Central Park to a Rat Running Past Him, Prince William Got a Taste of the True NYC Experience
He was in town for just 48 hours.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton Had a Very, Very Awkward First Date
Yikes.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
On Solo NYC Visit, Prince William Showed a “Deeper Confidence”—and Proof That He’s a New Type of Royal
An expert said he appeared “in awe of the U.S.” while stateside.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Hiring a CEO Signals They're "Moving Into a New Age," Says Royal Expert
It's already causing trouble, apparently.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Went for a Run in Central Park This Morning, and Nobody Noticed
“It was wonderful waking up in New York on a sunny morning.”
By Rachel Burchfield