The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Step Back as Senior Royals: January 2020

[nightsky]

Originally Posted by Madame Verseau

Has anyone gone on sussexroyal.com and read the links or just followed the tabloid harangue? It's a Q and A to answer questions on the funding, media , Commonwealth, Community and the Monarchy. The Sussexes aren't giving up their titles , otherwise their joint monogram with the coronet wouldn't be on the website. If the queen pulls their titles and Andrew keeps his (and his issues are a 1000 x worse) the optics would be bad.

The difference is Andrew isn’t a working royal any longer. The Sussex seem to want to have one foot in and foot out of that world. I’m not sure how that would work. Plus, they could use they’re titles to make money. This could cause issues. What if they went on QVC to sell cookware. Could you imagine? I think we’re entering into a grey area.

[_Heather_]

However, I don't really believe that Andrew ever tried to dictate to the Queen or the Firm how it would all go nor do I believe that he ever tried to play the "my way or the highway" game or force the monarchy into a corner to try to get his way. Andrew screwed up massively and both he and his daughters will pay the price now and for years to come. But I can't imagine this game that Harry and Meghan are trying to play will go over well with the Queen, particularly not after she acted swiftly and decisively where Andrew was concerned. She's a pretty smart cookie and trying to goad her into allowing their every whim just to save face and make the palace look good won't work. I'd say the next few days will be very, very interesting and while they may keep their titles because, if I understand it correctly, it's a major undertaking to remove them, their HRH's are at the Queen's sole discretion and a whole other matter. So while they may remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex so long as they don't renounce them (and they won't you can be sure) they may not remain HRH's for much longer, particularly if they've "poked the bear" one too many times.

[Jannedde]

Dianna, Sarah, now Meghan. It seems the BRF can't accommodate modern married in females well. Only Kate has survived, and she like someone from the 1950's who never worked prior to marriage.

[lashinka2002]

As a Canadian I can tell you I would never support funding for any un-elected couple. Especially this couple who are so spoiled and entitled as to think that they can just come to Canada and live here because they can't make things work for them the way they want to in the UK. They are disappointing and embarrassing. They could have chosen to step away quietly but instead they are loud and obnoxious with their statement and website. Their statement makes it obvious that they are looking to make money off of the Sussex name without her majesty's consent.

[_Heather_]

Originally Posted by Jannedde

Dianna, Sarah, now Meghan. It seems the BRF can't accommodate modern married in females well. Only Kate has survived, and she like someone from the 1950's who never worked prior to marriage.

I suppose that's one way to look at it. Or, conversely, she's the only one who managed to adapt and thrive and that may be due in large part to her stable family background and long relationship prior to marriage that gave her time to feel more comfortable with the pressures, the press, the family, and the system as a whole. In fact, every single one of these things could also be said about Sophie. None of the other three had or gave themselves the time, the stability, etc.

[padams2359]

Perhaps he has been looking at what his life could be like as the second son of a monarch. I don’t agree with the method they took, but I cannot help but think that the picture of their future showed an uphill battle of epic proportions. When is the last time anything positive was said about Andrew, or any member of his family? Not even including the Epstein mess. I hope they are happy, and as involved with the family as much as each side is copacetic. I don’t think any of us can comprehend what that goldfish bowl can be like to exist in.

[yvr girl]

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-he...al-family.html

Only the Queen has a constitutional role in Canada but Harry and Meghan are most definitely part of the Canadian Royal Family.

It is hard to say how it will go. Royal visits are popular in Canada. The big tours get lots of press but we also have numerous small scale visits. Several members of the family are involved with various charities, regiments etc.

You don't hear people complain about the cost of Royal tours too much in Canada, and we do foot the bill. In general, Canadians don't complain about the cost of public officials a great deal unless it is seen as extravagant. We had one Governor General a few years ago who was seen as being a bit spendy.

If Harry and Meghan were able to embrace Canadian culture and get involved with some local causes it might work.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Jannedde

Dianna, Sarah, now Meghan. It seems the BRF can't accommodate modern married in females well. Only Kate has survived, and she like someone from the 1950's who never worked prior to marriage.

Sophie has done just fine as well-she learned her role in the Firm.
Something Diana, Sarah and apparently now Meghan, couldn’t or wouldn’t do.
And Sophie worked, in fact she owned her own company.

[nightsky]

Originally Posted by Jannedde

Dianna, Sarah, now Meghan. It seems the BRF can't accommodate modern married in females well. Only Kate has survived, and she like someone from the 1950's who never worked prior to marriage.

Sophie is doing well! Plus Kate worked before marriage.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by _Heather_

I suppose that's one way to look at it. Or, conversely, she's the only one who managed to adapt and thrive and that may be due in large part to her stable family background and long relationship prior to marriage that gave her time to feel more comfortable with the pressures, the press, the family, and the system as a whole. None of the other three had or gave themselves the time, the stability, etc.

Sophie also had a stable family life growing up. And she and Edward were together a long time prior to marrying.
You are right, that seems to make a huge difference in the success or failure.
Edit to add-I see you added Sophie to your post after I replied about Sophie.

[Countessmeout]

Originally Posted by soapstar

Yep. They weren’t blinded about Harry and Meghan wanting to leave - they knew that, they were blindsided about Harry and Meghan announcing it now when a decision hadn’t even been made yet.

This was still in the early stages, so I wouldn’t expect BP to have a draft ready. Hard to draft a statement when they are still trying to work through and figure this all out.

It seems the BRF was “disappointed” in the Sussexes decision to release a statement (from the BBC link posted in a previous post).



I’m shocked that the Sussexes released a statement before informing the Queen and Prince Charles and before anything had even been decided.

My point is a lot of people are taking the disappointment differently.

A lot of posters seem to read it as BP had no idea Harry and Meghan were planning this. That they suddenly made this decision out if left field and announced it to the public without telling the queen or Charles about their plans.

In reality the queen and Charles knew. And plans were in the works. It's simply the timing of the press release that was a shock. Not the actual information.

If Harry plans to keep on supporting the queen, she knew he was planning this. But things like security and funding takes time, and the plan was seemingly to wait until all pieces were in place.


It seems security will be like the wessexes, security only paid when they are on duty doing events.

[Hallo girl]

Originally Posted by Jannedde

Dianna, Sarah, now Meghan. It seems the BRF can't accommodate modern married in females well. Only Kate has survived, and she like someone from the 1950's who never worked prior to marriage.

I would disagree, the three all had short engagements, were hailed as a breath of fresh air that would modernise and rescue the royal family. They then went on to believe their own hype and thought they were going to tell the royal family how it was done.

Kate was different because of William, it was obvious he did not want to go down the same road as his parents and wanted to be sure before marriage , also that his future bride really understood what was expected. They took a lot of stick for that , Kate in particular.

Edward and Sophie also took their time, refused to be rushed into anything, also both Kate and Sophie came from settled backgrounds.

[Missjersey]

Originally Posted by _Heather_

However, I don't really believe that Andrew ever tried to dictate to the Queen or the Firm how it would all go nor do I believe that he ever tried to play the "my way or the highway" game or force the monarchy into a corner to try to get his way. Andrew screwed up massively and both he and his daughters will pay the price now and for years to come. But I can't imagine this game that Harry and Meghan are trying to play will go over well with the Queen, particularly not after she acted swiftly and decisively where Andrew was concerned. She's a pretty smart cookie and trying to goad her into allowing their every whim just to save face and make the palace look good won't work. I'd say the next few days will be very, very interesting and while they may keep their titles because, if I understand it correctly, it's a major undertaking to remove them, their HRH's are at the Queen's sole discretion and a whole other matter. So while they may remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex so long as they don't renounce them (and they won't you can be sure) they may not remain HRH's for much longer, particularly if they've "poked the bear" one too many times.

...,,dictate to the Queen - well said.

Opinions galore - for all I read, it still seems like a spit in the face

[_Heather_]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

Sophie also had a stable family life growing up. And she and Edward were together a long time prior to marrying.
You are right, that seems to make a huge difference in the success or failure.
Edit to add-I see you added Sophie to your post after I replied about Sophie.

LOL...you and I must have been posting at the same time. Just as I was editing my comment to include my thoughts about Sophie you were posting yours.

[ACO]

Kate also had the benefit of having years of not being a full time royal. She got to chill and fly under the radar in a way without much royal responsibility. She got to experience her pregnancies in piece. So did Sophie. It is sad Meghan was attacked throughout hers. Also Sophie benefited of not having to be in the middle of the media cluster like Kate and Meghan.

Meghan entered the family at an awkward time and she also had other aspects to her (race, nationality, career, marriage status....) that created more story and grief that none of these other ladies will ever have to deal with.

It is what it is.

Again we have no idea what is actually going on. People think they hurting the royals. Well maybe they hurt the Sussexes too. We truly have zero idea and assuming based on whatever.

But in the end I agree that the Sussexes will likely no longer be members of the BRF and I think that will be what they all agree is for the best for everyone. And then the next stop is everyone dealing that the aftermath.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Countessmeout

My point is a lot of people are taking the disappointment differently.

A lot of posters seem to read it as BP had no idea Harry and Meghan were planning this. That they suddenly made this decision out if left field and announced it to the public without telling the queen or Charles about their plans.

In reality the queen and Charles knew. And plans were in the works. It's simply the timing of the press release that was a shock. Not the actual information.

If Harry plans to keep on supporting the queen, she knew he was planning this. But things like security and funding takes time, and the plan was seemingly to wait until all pieces were in place.


It seems security will be like the wessexes, security only paid when they are on duty doing events.

I think Harry & Meghan were not getting things how they wanted from the Firm and decided to release their plan hoping public opinion would force the Firm to acquiesce.
I don’t think the Sussex plan is tenable.

[MidwestMom]

Diana, Sarah, Sophie, and Kate all are/were British, so they had some idea of what royal life would entail. Sophie and Kate, coming from stable homes have done well. Meghan, being an American, no doubt had a different concept of royalty than the others. Like Diana, she got thrown in at the deep end following a relatively short courtship. I haven't followed Meghan too closely, but she has been so badly treated by the tabloid press, no wonder she needed to get away from the pressure. Well, Charles has wanted to slim down the monarchy, and that seems to be happening.

[Madame Verseau]

The site shows they want the work. The media link is most interesting.

[ACO]

I think the site just lays out a guideline of what could potentially happen. They also say throughout it "if called upon" as if to say if they are not it also will not occur. Again, I don't think Harry and Meghan expect to remain members of the BRF. I truly don't.

[XeniaCasaraghi]

From a breath of fresh air to 2 utter disappointments in less than 2years. Have to say the signs were there that there would be problems: quick engagement, unstable family, no family at wedding except her mother, rushing into royal engagements, a fast pregnancy....it's quite similar to Diana and Fergie.