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However, it appears that the pair will retain their official titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Harry remains sixth in line of succession, unchanged in line of succession.
The Duchess and Duke of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (right), attend an event in the gardens of Buckingham Palace on May 22, 2018. Image: @ KensingtonRoyal / Twitter
LONDON – Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan have permanently resigned from their royal duties, Buckingham Palace said on Friday, just over a year after they rocked the British monarchy by announcing plans to “step back” in its functions.
Queen Elizabeth II ordered the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they are formally known, to renounce their honorary titles and endorsements following confirmation that they would not return as serving royals.
The couple moved to the United States last year, in a move dubbed “Megxit” by the British press, and have since embarked on various business ventures there, including lucrative partnerships with streaming platforms Netflix and Spotify.
At an emergency summit in January 2020 with the Queen, Harry’s father, Prince Charles and his brother, Prince William, Harry agreed that they would stop using their “Royal Highness” titles and the “Sussex Royal” brand.
But older family members vowed to review the situation a year later, and the move has now become permanent, days after Harry and Meghan announced on Valentine’s Day that they were expecting their second child.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty the Queen that they will not return as active members of the Royal Family,” announced Buckingham Palace.
“The Queen has written confirming that by moving away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that a life of public service entails.”
He noted that his honorary appointments and endorsements would be redistributed among serving royals.
‘THE SERVICE IS UNIVERSAL’
However, it appears that the pair will retain their official titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Harry remains sixth in line of succession, unchanged in line of succession.
“Although everyone is saddened by his decision, the Duke and Duchess remain very dear members of the family,” the palace statement added.
The decision means that Harry, 36, who served as a soldier in Afghanistan and is passionate about the welfare of veterans, must renounce several honorary military titles related to the Royal Marines, the air force and the navy.
Earlier this month he formally settled a defamation lawsuit against the publisher of The mail on Sunday and the MailOnline website for reports that he had snubbed soldiers since he walked away from real life.
A spokesman for the couple said on Friday that they had shown they “remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world.”
The statement noted that they had offered their continued support to the organizations they had played “regardless of the official role.”
“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal,” he added.
INTERVIEW ‘INTIMATE’
The couple’s move to the US followed reports that Meghan was deeply unhappy with life within the century-old royal institution and the couple’s growing complaints about media intrusion.
But his sudden nature shook the monarchy and reportedly caused resentment with Harry’s brother William, who is second in line to the throne.
Harry and Meghan have started several legal cases against the UK media alleging invasion of privacy, and a lawsuit ended this month with a victory against Associated Newspapers.
The couple are set to give an “intimate” interview about their lives with American chat show host Oprah Winfrey.
‘OUR WORK CHAMPIONED’
In addition to his military titles, Harry also held positions in the Commonwealth and a few other sponsorships, including with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Football League.
“The RFU has greatly valued his contribution to promoting and supporting the game,” the organization said on Twitter.
Harry will continue to be a sponsor of the Invictus Games Foundation, the organization for disabled military veterans confirmed.
Meanwhile, Meghan also received honorary roles after marrying Harry in a fairy tale ceremony at Windsor Castle in May 2018, which included becoming a patron of the National Theater.
The acclaimed theater group also thanked him for the support offered during his shorter-than-expected tenure and said the process of appointing a new patron had begun.
Jennie Bond, a former royal correspondent for the BBC, said the loss of titles would be a severe blow to the couple.
“This is going to upset Harry, obviously, particularly the military (losses),” he told the broadcaster.
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