The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to completely give up Royal life after a Megxit deal was sealed, Buckingham Palace announced tonight.
The couple will no longer use their HRH titles and will repay $2.4 million of taxpayers’ money spent on renovating their Frogmore Cottage home.
The couple, who will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring.
The announcement tonight marks the conclusion of talks about their future after days of wrangling with senior members of the family and royal aides to thrash out a deal.
It effectively means Harry and Meghan have got their wish to pursue an independent life in North America where they can set their own agenda and make money how they choose.
However, they have pledged to ‘uphold the Queen’s values’.
Her Royal Highness, who took control of the crisis that threatened to permanently damage the monarchy, praised Meghan for swiftly becoming a part of the family and thanked the couple for the work they had done, saying she was pleased they had found a constructive way to move forward.
In her statement, the Queen said: ‘Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am 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.
‘I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.
‘I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.
‘It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.’
And a statement from Buckingham Palace read: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.
‘As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments.
‘They will no longer receive public funds for royal duties. With the Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.
‘While they can no longer formally represent the Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.
‘The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.
‘Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security. This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020.’
Their new titles mirror the styling given to Harry’s mother Diana after her divorce when she was no longer allowed to use HRH.
She was know as Diana, Princess of Wales.
Despite the official statements saying they would no longer be funded by taxpayers, it is understood Harry will still be reliant on the Bank of Dad – with Prince Charles bankrolling him from the Duchy of Cornwall.
He currently receives around $2.3 million a year.