The Queen has yet again shown her great compassion
THEY claimed that they wanted their freedom beyond the suffocating constraints of royalty. Well, Harry and Meghan have now been granted their wish by the Queen.A new, less restricted life beckons.
Yet their independence comes at a heavy price. Under the terms of the settlement reached at the weekend, after last Monday’s Sandringham summit, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will cease most of their official involvement with the House of Windsor.
They will no longer be able to use their royal titles, or receive public funds, or represent the Queen. They will also have to pay back the £2.4 million spent renovating their Windsor residence of Frogmore Cottage.
Even more painfully for Harry, whose years in the Army were among the happiest of his life, he will have to withdraw from all his military appointments, including as Captain General of the Royal Marines.
The “progressive new role” which Harry and Meghan envis- aged for themselves within the Royal Family has now disappeared. This is, in practice, an abdication from any formal connection to the throne. But the deal is the most sensible, constructive, arrangement that could have been reached.
AMAKESHIFT compromise, with the Sussexes given semidetached royal status, would have been both unworkable and unpopular. The British people would have resented having to bankroll a couple who enjoy the privileges of royalty without the consequent duties.
Just as worryingly, the Duke and Duchess could have exploited their titles for commercial gain, thereby damaging the integrity of the Crown. Or they could have undermined the Royal Family’s strict political neutrality in their eagerness to act as advocates of the social justice movement.
Thanks to the successful
Sandringham negotiations, that danger has passed. Particular credit is due to the Queen, who, at the age of 93, has displayed remarkable gifts of subtlety, compassion and patience.
While refusing to indulge the Sussexes too far, she showed them humanity and understanding, qualities that shone through her generous personal statement at the weekend, when she praised “their dedicated work”, said that they “will always be much loved members of my family”, and expressed the hope that they can “start building a happy and peaceful new life”. There was no bitterness, only the warmth of a loving grandmother.
With the new agreement, the ominous tensions of last week have lifted. But in truth, the threat to the monarchy in recent days has been wildly exaggerated. The Sussex saga has been nothing like as serious centenary. Harry already looks pensive as the Abdication crisis of 1936, when King Edward VIII’s determination to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson imperilled the very existence of the Government and the throne.
Even the divorce of Charles and Diana was much more significant, since it involved the heir. No politicians have been involved this time, nor has there been any public discord.
Indeed, republicanism looks a doomed cause in the United Kingdom. The future of the monarchy looks secure, with the line of succession in the safe hands of Charles and then William.
It was telling that just after the Sandringham summit, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made an official visit to multi-racial Bradford, where they were greeted by huge, cheering crowds.
If the Royal Family comes out well from this episode, the same
cannot be said of Harry and Meghan, who have exuded petulance and self-pity.
The Queen has been doing her duty as sovereign for almost 68 years. They could not manage 18 months as a Royal couple without bleating about the “soul-crushing” routine.
IT FEELS there has also been an air of bullying about their demands, a sense of tackiness about their global ambitions, and a whiff of hypocrisy about their endless calls for empathy, given the family friction they’ve caused.
It must be hoped that the new accord will help them find peace. But questions continue, like who will pay for their security and where they will be resident for tax purposes. Will Meghan continue with her application for British citizenship, and will Harry accept private funds from his father?
On a more emotional level, how will Harry cope with this drastic change? The huge sacrifices he had made for his wife are bound to put tremendous pressures on his marriage.
The British monarchy might have a bright future, but the prospects for the new outsiders could be more difficult.
‘The monarchy is safe but life is less certain for the new outsiders’