HARRY GETS HEIR DRYER OFF QUEEN
Told to pay back for home Couple won’t use HRH title
THE Queen had the final say on Harry and Meghan’s future last night, effectively cutting them out of the Royal Family.
After a tough ruling, the couple will no longer use their HRH titles and must pay back £2.4million spent on their Windsor home.
PRINCE Harry and Meghan were last night booted out of the Royal Family by the Queen and told to pay back the public millions for their house refurb.
The couple will no longer be able to use their HRH titles and must repay £2.4million of taxpayers’ money spent on renovating Frogmore Cottage. They will stop formally representing the Queen, and will quit carrying out royal duties from the spring. They will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Harry will also relinquish his official military patronages.
The deal was welcomed by celebrities. GMB presenter Piers Morgan tweeted: “The Queen’s told Meghan/Harry to sling their parttime royal hook. Well done, Your Majesty – right decision.” Royal expert Phil Dampier added: “A clean break was essential and we shouldn’t pay for their security.”
The extraordinary “Hard Megxit” deal with Buckingham Palace was announced after days of talks with senior members of the family and aides. It allows the breakaway couple to live in Canada with son Archie for at least part of the year, and frees them to secure their own commercial deals. But the arrangements are seen as a kick in the teeth for the pair, who will now be essentially in exile from the Royal Family.
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 recognise 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.”
She added: “It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
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.”