Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan losing their HRH titles

LONDON – Prince Harry and his wife, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, will no longer use the “Royal Highness” titles or receive public funds after a deal was struck for them to step aside as senior royals.

According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, Meghan and Harry can no longer use their HRH titles, as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.

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

The palace says the couple will repay some 2.4 million pounds of taxpayers’ money that was spent renovating their home near Windsor Castle.

In a statement Saturday, Queen Elizabeth II said 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.”

All these changes are set to take effect by the spring.

Significantly, the statement says the couple will repay taxpayer money used to renovate their lavish U.K. home.

“They have agreed to not only not accept state funds — that is taxpayer money–for duties and therefore they are planning to pay back the 2.4 million pounds that were used from taxpayers money to refurbish their house in Frogmore,” explains UBC Professor Sarika Bose. “I think that the Royal Family really wants to emphasize that they are working, and that the state funding they get paid is actually for the work that they do.”

She says in light of the Queen and Prince Phillip decreasing their duties, other senior working royals have had to assume more responsibility.

“The kind of work that they do is really support for a variety of charities. They go and they represent the Queen,” Bose explains. “They go and support by doing a variety of tasks–not just cutting ribbons.”

Harry is still a prince, and the couple remains the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, even though the HRH title has been revoked.

“That decision has been made, if you’re not a working member of the Royal family representing the queen when she can not be there you need to step away from the titles that you have earned from doing that kind of work,” Bose says.

She notes the tone of the Queen’s announcement showed compassion for the couple.

“I think that it’s come to a point where it’s very hard for her to ignore the situation and so she is I think trying to make sure she is acknowledging the struggles,” she says. “I think there’s a real concern by the royal family not to create the kind of rifts and divisions that have happened in their family history and to find ways of cooperation and family unity.”

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