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

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by Elenath

Neither I believe. I believe giving up their work as senior royals gives them the freedom to do this on their own terms. Meaning they'll still support the patronages they have and still support certain charities with their foundation and they're still a part of the BRF. I'm not sure if they'll be on the balcony in the future though.
I think this choice was made in part because it allows them the freedom to spend part of the year in North America. I'm sure Meghan misses it.

Thank you Elenath. But I remember Diana Princess of Wales's infamous "time and space" speech like it was yesterday. I think that is when she ditched her RPO's as well.

And in retrospect, it was the beginning of the end for her.

I know this is a little bit different....but it sounds similar enough to give me a bit of a chill.....

[sophie25]

They can't possibly dip in and out of the family when it suits them. They are either in or out and that must include titles, funding, security, the lot.

[ACO]

@MaxFosterCNN Mood not good in the palaces. ‘Dissapointed’ is the word I am hearing. Not even The Queen was consulted. Unprecedented probably.

I really don't think they expected them to "step away" and especially not like this.

[leticia.h]

Originally Posted by amaryllus

Wow. The Queens and Dukes son and Older grandchildren are certainly not making their last years peaceful and stress free are they?

This is so disappointing on so many levels

[tommy100]

Originally Posted by Betsypaige

If true, that’s pretty awful on their part...where is the respect for the Queen? As Queen and grandmother? For Charles, father and supportive in-law? For the institution?

If true, and I stress IF, then it is if nothing else a wholly unprofessional way to act. Imagine announcing you are resigning from your job online without telling your boss first. Its just not how people behave never mind when that boss is your grandmother and you're working for a family firm. It certainly plays up to a narrative the media have tried to push of them being difficult and uncooperative with an eye on catching the headlines and that it letting themselves down.

[tausi]

Originally Posted by sophie25

They can't possibly dip in and out of the family when it suits them. They are either in or out and that must include titles, funding, security, the lot.

Exactly my thoughts. I believe the Queen will make them choose, if truly they didn't consult her on this. They will not have it both ways. It will be in or out. Not one leg in and one leg out.

Harry is quite a disappointment. You can't do that to your family that has had your back when you screwed up many times in the past. I don't think Meghan has truly understanding of family loyalty. May be she didn't get that growing up. But Harry should know better.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Fem

It actually doesn't explain the 95% of the money - which, as stated in their own website, comes from the Duchy of Cornwall. And there's no word about "becoming independent" from the Duchy, they're talking just about The Sovereign Grant.

Interesting... and getting weirder each time.

So, financially independent means: still expecting Charles to fund them almost fully as he does now but ALSO being able to earn a 'professional income' (how much do they anticipate)? Why? Don't they 'get' enough money and want a different lifestyle? Does 'professional income' also include receiving money from the industry to promote their causes; or receive money to hold speeches and write books (like former presidents do)?

Of course, once Charles becomes king their full support was supposed to come from the Sovereign Grant; but for now, all signs suggest: all perks no boundaries.

Edit: Interesting phrase: "Their Royal Highnesses feel this new approach will enable them to continue to carry out their duties for Her Majesty The Queen, while having the future financial autonomy to work externally. "
They might find out that BP 'feels' differently.

[Humbugged]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

Well said.

I feel sorry for William.

Why this is what he wanted according to the articles he was having fed to the press ?

[Lady Daly]

Royal Musings blog owner and royal expert Marlene Eilers Koenig's post shedding light on their new use of media no longer using the Royal Rota System.
http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogs...enior.html?m=1

[Pranter]

Originally Posted by Somebody

Interesting... and getting weirder each time.

So, financially independent means: still expecting Charles to fund them almost fully as he does now but ALSO being able to earn a 'professional income' (how much do they anticipate)? Why? Don't they 'get' enough money and want a different lifestyle? Does 'professional income' also include receiving money from the industry to promote their causes; or receive money to hold speeches and write books (like former presidents do)?

Of course, once Charles becomes king their full support was supposed to come from the Sovereign Grant; but for now, all signs suggest: all perks no boundaries.

https://sussexroyal.com/funding/


It's mostly laid out on their page.

[Nico]

Originally Posted by ACO

@MaxFosterCNN Mood not good in the palaces. ‘Dissapointed’ is the word I am hearing. Not even The Queen was consulted. Unprecedented probably.

Pathetical, just pathetical.
I thought it was a somewhat courageous decision , they are just in a loose cannon mode.
If true It's an insult to your sovereign, worse, it's an insult to your 93 years old grandmother.
I expect a striping of the HRH's asap and a British Arways ticket to LA.

ENOUGH

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by Sutherland

What it means is that they do not wish to be tethered to the civil list or dependent upon its strictures for the direction of their charitable and philanthropic functions. As senior royals they are required to perform certain duties and prevented from performing others, which is very restrictive and obviously not the way they intend to proceed. They asked for independence in this aspect of their work and were refused, so this is not unexpected. It’s not about ‘making money’ off their position in the Royal family. It’s about having the ability to make choices and to support the charities and foundations to which they feel a personal affinity. As both of them are quite well placed financially in their own right, there’s no need for them to be bound to outdated traditions.

The Civil List hasn't existed since 2011 and even when it did there were only two people on it - the Queen and Philip.

Harry has hinted in the past that he wanted to leave the family and stated that he hated Britain so it isn't a surprise that he wants to go somewhere else.

The question will be 'will they be allowed to use their titles for their own financial benefit'. We know how Sarah is castigated for using her title and she is out of the BRF so I am not so sure how they will get around that.

I also hope that they aren't expecting the British taxpayer to pay for their security while giving nothing back in the terms of royal duties. There is a social contract there - free home and security at taxpayers expense and royal duties. If no royal duties then they will have to pay a commercial rate of rent for Frogmore or give it up (Diana was told that when she decided to walk away from royal duties during the years of separation - no royal duties = full commercial rent for her KP apartment - surprisingly she returned to royal duties pretty quickly).

[tausi]

Originally Posted by Humbugged

Why this is what he wanted according to the articles he was having fed to the press ?

That's gossip from H&M supporters. No truth to it whatsoever. I think W&K have taken the high road on this and I respect that. Many awful things were said that are not true. For that I am glad H&M will go separate ways. I got tired of reading articles of friends and sources etc. All started after Meghan joined the firm, nothing prior to that.

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by Sister Morphine

The way Meghan has been treated by people since she started dating him...she's been treated worse than garbage. If this decision was made because Harry was sick of it, well, I don't blame him. While on some level I think any woman he married would cop a fair bit of stick from the media/Internet, the level of hatred thrown at Meghan was really out of line, certainly far worse than Catherine had to deal with.

No, she was not. I agree she was more than once treated unfair. But a lot of criticism she received was her (and her husband´s) own fault! Now they disappoint once more...
This is all so hyppocrite claiming to "support" the Queen and at the same time letting her disloyally down! What an almost cruel way to treat a 93 year old grandmother Harry ows so much!

[poppy7]

I think Meghan is about to discover what Harry should have always known. The House of Windsor survives at any cost. This will blow up. And who knows who the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be in a weeks time. You have every right to make the decisions you want but are powerless to control other people's reactions to it.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Humbugged

Why this is what he wanted according to the articles he was having fed to the press ?

I think William wanted the brother he always had before back in his life, not this new guy--who seems to be selfish and self-centered...and pompous.

[poppy7]

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

Thank you Elenath. But I remember Diana Princess of Wales's infamous "time and space" speech like it was yesterday. I think that is when she ditched her RPO's as well.

And in retrospect, it was the beginning of the end for her.

I know this is a little bit different....but it sounds similar enough to give me a bit of a chill.....

I thought the same thing. Diana, Diana. I wish more for Harry than this. I really do.

[EvaH]

Originally Posted by LadyGlendower

I'm afraid that is how it seems. What a mess.

Who on earth is running their PR/legal? a real question because I don't know.

The women who helped Hillary Clinton loose when she should have won. Worst hire they have ever done.

[Sister Morphine]

I think some of the reactions here are amusing, particularly those of you not living in the UK and thus contributors (via your taxes) to their maintenance. I don't know how this is all going to flesh out when the dust has settled and neither do you. There may be more clarification forthcoming about what their roles will be what, titles they will or won't continue to have, where they'll live, etc., or there may not be. I would imagine there will be, if only to give the press something further to rant and rave about.

[_Heather_]

I think many of us have thought this was coming for quite some time now. Probably not in this exact way or at this exact time and certainly with the consultation of BP first but still, coming. However, this explains so much. This all explains so much about the lawsuits, the terrible relationship with the press, the dramatic crocodile tears in the documentary, the need to hire publicists and legal representation outside of that used by the Royal Family, and so much more. While this clearly was not discussed in depth with HM, the PoW, the DoC, etc. it was clearly well planned out in advance by Harry and Meghan. I can't imagine that a loss of titles will be far behind and, I suspect, a specific directive from HM about the future use of "Sussex" and their intentions to cash in on their titles and status. I'd say we'd better brace ourselves for both a loss of titles as well as a loss of funding from the Duchy, loss of RPOs, loss of Frogmore, etc.

Perhaps, in retrospect, it would have been more appropriate to have given them the Windsor title as some theorized prior to the wedding.