keeping up with the royals

Looks Like the Queen Is Giving Harry and Meghan What They Want

Photo: David Fisher/Shutterstock

Last week, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry rocked the British monarchy with their announcement that they will be stepping back as “senior” members of the royal family, explaining on Instagram that they will become financially independent and “balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America.”

Their historic, bombshell of an announcement was met with an extremely terse response from the queen’s office. Following the statement, the BBC reported that no members of the royal family had been consulted before the Sussexes’ announcement, with correspondent Jonny Dymond adding that the other senior members of the royal family were reportedly “disappointed” and “hurt.”

Now, it seems, they have changed their tune. In addition to answering speculation as to where the couple will be living (they will be based part-time in Canada) a new statement from the queen’s office has clarified that the royal family is “entirely supportive” of Meghan and Harry’s future plans. Here is her statement in full:

“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.


My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.


Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.


It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.


These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”

Looks Like Harry and Meghan Are Getting What They Want