The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Transition & Future

[BaiSoSo]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

I understand that in Britain non-working royals typically pay commercial rent for their residences. In any case, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to pay only a token rent and running costs after stepping back from being working royals.




At least in the case of the Duchy Originals, its profits are fully donated to charity.

The Sussexes are paying back the 2.4 mil in renovations because people were complaining about the cost...nevermind it was the lowest of all the royal renovations lately and then they will pay a running cost on top of that.

The people I was referring to aren't part of the Duchy Originals they are individuals who are non-working royals but using titles including HRH for book deals, and others who are using their connections to the royal family to sell things like milk.

Originally Posted by Nico

Well well well apparently they don't seem to be soooo disgusted by the BRF as they will resume some of their duties very soon. And oh "The couple intend to split their time between the UK and North America and the spokesperson said they would be in the UK "regularly" after stepping back from royal duties". Clearly the family is working ALL together to find a decent solution for everyone involved.

Well, they are still working royals right now....so it was always known they had a couple of engagements left to do. They will be in the UK often because they have charities there they are still working with but they will also spend time outside of the UK and won't be subjecting their child/selves to the royal rota.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by ACO

Agreed. Seems many have been way off base on all sides. Glad everyone working together. Looking forward to seeing their final engagements and future plans.

Yep......and I'm glad to be wrong!

[QueenMathilde]

So I'm confused. They get to keep the "sussex royal" name after all? Because I looked and nothing has changed on their web site.

[Gawin]

Originally Posted by QueenMathilde

So I'm confused. They get to keep the "sussex royal" name after all? Because I looked and nothing has changed on their web site.

It's still under discussion. But they probably won't be allowed to keep it.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by QueenMathilde

So I'm confused. They get to keep the "sussex royal" name after all? Because I looked and nothing has changed on their web site.

Technically, nothing has changed yet-they are still “working royals” until March 31.

[soapstar]

A few posts have been deleted. If you wish to discuss the guests at Harry and Meghan's wedding, please take it to their wedding thread. If you wish to discuss Harry’s relationship with his friends, you can do so here.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

I am happy that Harry is going to maintain his military associations and his role. He served two dangerous tours in Afghanistan. Unlike quite a few Royal princes on the scene in Europe, he actually earned those medals.

He earned ONE of his medals - the Afghanistan service medal. The other two medals he wears are the Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals - which he would have received simply for being the Queen's grandson.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by BaiSoSo

A 'gift' that was a joke.... usually one doesn't have to pay for their own gift but they either feel like they have to pay for it or are being required to pay for it.

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

I understand that in Britain non-working royals typically pay commercial rent for their residences. In any case, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to pay only a token rent and running costs after stepping back from being working royals.

Originally Posted by BaiSoSo

The Sussexes are paying back the 2.4 mil in renovations because people were complaining about the cost...nevermind it was the lowest of all the royal renovations lately and then they will pay a running cost on top of that.

I hope that the members who are experts on British royal finances will clarify, but on the basis of what I have read my understanding is that other persons in the British royal family have also paid for refurbishments for their respective residences, and I assume running costs would be paid for by the leaseholder as well.

[tommy100]

I'm no expert but can say that Prince & Princess Michael of Kent (KP apartment), Princess Eugenie & Jack Brooksbank & Princess Beatrice all do (or have not sure about Beatrice anymore) live in official royal palaces and pay a commercial level (or certainly much higher than a peppercorn) rent. Usually the state pays for renovations that are maintaining the structure of the building - roofs etc - but interior decoration, appliances etc are for the person living there to pay for.

So if H&M pay rent on their residence it would appear to put them in line with other members of the Queen's family with HRH who don't work for the firm as such.

[carlota]

Originally Posted by ladongas

Perhaps this will merely be a 12 month hiatus for them.

Those were my thoughts as well. As it is worded in the text it says “they won’t carry out duties on behalf of The queen but this will be reassessed in 12 months”. They haven’t said the whole arrangement would be assessed but specifically them “representing the queen” ie being senior royals. And I do hope this doesn’t mean that Charles May allow them to be royals and earn money when king. I hope he upholds the queen’s wishes by not going against her will after her death.

It’s puzzling because if they wanted a break that would have been less controversial than this “stepping down”. I wonder what it is they may reassess after a year. Is this the normal course of action? (Not that there really is one as this is an unconventional situation in and of itself)

Having said that I can’t see them coming in a year saying with a big smile “we are back into the BRF as senior royals” all hunky dory and as if nothing happened. I think the revision is probably for other terms of the deal (although they possible aren’t closing down the option of them returning but I think it’s slim as they made a real statement with their move on this that the BRF life was almost not in accordance with their morals and intended way of life so it’s a hard one to undo). But these two are so volatile that I don’t rule it out.

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by Betsypaige

The headline is wrong, but the article is fair. No more Sussex Royal.

I think this is the right decision. Harry and Meghan chose this new life for themselves, and that does not include them being Royal. They wanted independence, now they have it.

They still are Royals. Harry still is Nr. 6 when it comes to the throne and the order of precedence still includes them, so Beatrice and Eugenie still have to curtsey to Meghan when she is with Harry.


It's just that it is expected that they don't use their being Royal to make money directly from that fact. (We all know that people won't forget that, if they use their titles and styles or not). And Duke of Sussex is now Harry's name as well as his title, as he is a peer of the realm, so he still can use this as if a Mr. Watson uses Watson as his name.

[Iluvbertie]

Beatrice and Eugenie do NOT curtsey to Meghan when she is with or not with Harry.

Precedence is about who sits where and who enters first. Curtseying and bowing is acknowledging someone of higher rank. HRHs are all the same rank and so they do not curtsey to each other.

In 2005 The Queen changed the rules of precedence relating to royal women in women ONLY situations when in PRIVATE situations so if in a private situation Meghan and Beatrice are the only two people present Beatrice takes precedence but if Edward is also present then Meghan takes precedence because there is a man present.

Only at a totally private event i.e. one that isn't in the CC does this precedence rule apply and then only when there are no royal men present - regardless of whether the man in question is the husband of one of the women.

Beatrice and Eugenie curtsey to one person and one person only - The Queen. Meghan curtseys to one person and one person only - The Queen.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Claire

I think it is more on the lines of Charles will allow them to be both royals and earn money as keynote speakers when he is King.

I doubt it. Why would he agree to something that the queen vry clearly stood against?

[Denville]

Originally Posted by carlota

Thos
It’s puzzling because if they wanted a break that would have been less controversial than this “stepping down”. I wonder what it is they may reassess after a year. Is this the normal course of action? (Not that there really is one as this is an unconventional situation in and of itself)

Having said that I can’t see them coming in a year saying with a big smile “we are back into the BRF as senior royals” all hunky dory and as if nothing happened. I think the revision is probably for other terms of the deal (although they possible aren’t closing down the option of them returning but I think it’s slim as they made a real statement with their move on this that the BRF life was almost not in accordance with their morals and intended way of life so it’s a hard one to undo). But these two are so volatile that I don’t rule it out.

I think that Charles and the queen may be believing tat the "money earning" situation wont go that well and that witihin a year, Meg and Harry MAY be willing if not eager to return. But I cant' see how they could come back as "senior royals who are working" in the old way. I think the public and others would be very uneasy about them and feel that if they walked out once, they could do something odd again and be reluctant ot have them back. Of course C's Harry's father, he loves his son and he may want and wish for him to come back.. but I think he'd be very wary about H coming back to be a working royal again. and what would he do then? Come back with or without Meg and do nothing? DO some of his own charities?
I thnk that this IS an unusual situation, which has never arisen before.. when the Duke fo Windsor left, he gave up his position as King, he left the country and he never returned.. and was not really persona grata with his family again. Harry has not completely left, and he is still on terms iwht his family, and I think that while the RF are disappointed with his behaviour they understand it to an extent and are willing to always hold out a hand ot him.

[Alison H]

Nothing like this has ever happened before, so everyone's flying by the seat of their pants, for lack of a better way of doing it. I get the impression that Harry and Meghan don't really know what they want, and the fact that they ran off before agreeing terms with the Royal Family suggests that nothing's really been thought out properly. Sometimes you do get yourself worked up into a state and, when you've calmed down, you regret quitting your job, dumping your partner or anything else you may have done without thinking it through properly … and, this way, they've got the option to change their minds. I don't know if they'd be welcomed back by the public, though. It would have been more sensible to have said that they were taking time out. Maybe they've been planning it for months, but, if so, you'd think they'd have been more organised about it.

[wyevale]

I think the 'door's being left open' option is in case the Couple divorce, and Sussex returns to the UK...
If he does, many will find it impossible to trust that his presence is permanent, so acceptance of him will be difficult, and exceedingly slow to build.
His credibility is GONE..
It is highly unlikely the Lady EVER will.. she obviously dislikes it here, and having no Family or Social circle to base a life on here, why would she try again ?

[Denville]

Originally Posted by wyevale

I think the 'door's being left open' option is in case the Couple divorce, and Sussex returns to the UK...
If he does, many will find it impossible to trust that his presence is permanent, so acceptance of him will be difficult, and exceedingly slow to build.
His credibility is GONE..
It is highly unlikely the Lady EVER will.. she obviously dislikes it here, and having no Family or Social circle to base a life on here, why would she try again ?

I don't think the RF want to think like that, of H's marriage breaking up within a short time.. but I fear that you might be right, that they are wondering if it will last. I think they have held the door open for the Sussexes, in hopes that maybe they may change their minds and because they DO want them back particularly Harry. He is tehir son/grandson and they love him.
But I am sure they're aware that for them to return to the job and public duties would not be accepted by the public.. (At least I don't think so). I think that IF H were to return alone, he migtht be more likely to be welcomed back as a Royal, perhaps gradually returning to work bit by bit...But I think that Meghan wont want to come back and wuodl be less acceptable if she did.

Originally Posted by Betsypaige

Nope, I don’t see that at all...he’s every bit as invested in the image and integrity of the monarchy as his mother is...

The door was always left open because no one wanted Harry and Meghan to leave. I’m pleasantly surprised that they will be returning more than I thought they’d be early on...I’m happy for the family.

Nobody wanted them to leave.. as they are members of the family and also they were considered important working members who had taken on commitment to a full time career as working royals. But when they DID decide to go, I think that while on a personal level the RF were saddened and still hoped for a possible change of heart, I don't think they can be very happy with being abruptly deserted as they were. THey may come back a bit but I don't think it will be that often. They have a small child and they are going to have to start building their new life and earnring a living. That's going to mean that they are busy over there and IMO wont have that much time for coming home to do charity engagements here... and I would say that some Royals may think they are so unreliable that even for them to come back for occasional visits (other than to see family) is a mistake as they just can't be relied upon.

[MARG]

I believe that the door is open and they can come back in a year or so. It was merely that things got so ugly that they were reacting rather than following a planned course of action. His father wasn't available to run interference and HM and all those prickly Courtiers were fully occupied trying to handle and immediate crisis and they woefully underestimated H & M situation.

I know the royal machine is essential but they are not just a firm, they are a family.

But the way the BRF UK are acting and the BRF Canada are acting it leaves too many questions. If H & M are 'gone', surely they are the last people the Queen would want at the Commonwealth Service, particularly given their previous positions.

[Denville]

They are still her grandson and daughter in law. Even if there is bad feeling (and I don't think there is real bad feeling as such) she's not going to publicise it. She emphasised that they were loved members of her family.. and even if she were annoyed at their decsions to leave sehs' hardly going to let the world know...

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Alison H

Nothing like this has ever happened before, so everyone's flying by the seat of their pants, for lack of a better way of doing it. I get the impression that Harry and Meghan don't really know what they want, and the fact that they ran off before agreeing terms with the Royal Family suggests that nothing's really been thought out properly. Sometimes you do get yourself worked up into a state and, when you've calmed down, you regret quitting your job, dumping your partner or anything else you may have done without thinking it through properly … and, this way, they've got the option to change their minds. I don't know if they'd be welcomed back by the public, though. It would have been more sensible to have said that they were taking time out. Maybe they've been planning it for months, but, if so, you'd think they'd have been more organised about it.

I think this is why there will be a year end review. I think the Queen, Charles (and William) wanted Harry and Meghan to be absolutely sure this is what they wanted, that they weren’t acting out of extreme emotional states. It appears that this is what they actually did, but in reality they’d been planning this for a long time, so appearances can be deceiving. On the other hand, they really don’t seem to have completely thought this whole thing out, maybe because they expected to be able to be half-in, half-out. That notion - that they didn’t intend to leave completely - may be an indication that this current plan can be modified. After a year, we’ll have a better idea of what H and M’s future plans might look like.