Harry and Meghan formally quit royal life

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are formally stepping down as senior members of the British royal family, as they start a controversial new life in the United States.

The couple have relocated to California, according to reports, after announcing in January that they intended to quit royal life and “work to become financially independent”.

The decision means they will no longer carry out duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II and are giving up their office within the monarchy in Britain.

It follows reports that Meghan was deeply unhappy with life inside the centuries-old institution and increasing complaints from the couple about media intrusion.

The couple’s shock announcement rocked the royal family, appearing to blindside the queen and other senior family members.

It led the 93-year-old monarch to call an emergency summit with her eldest son and heir Prince Charles, and his two sons Princes William and Harry, to thrash out the terms of their departure.

The family eventually agreed that the couple, who have an 11-monthold son Archie, would relinquish their His or Her Royal Highness titles and no longer use the “Sussex Royal” label.

But they will still be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their official titles, and Harry remains sixth in line to the throne, with no change in the line of succession.

Harry and Meghan’s departure – dubbed “Megxit” by the British press – is a far cry from 2018, when they married in a fairytale wedding at Windsor Castle watched around the world.

Meghan, 38, a former TV actress who is of mixed race, was seen as a breath of fresh air for the royal family, which is often characterised as overly stuffy.

But relations with the media soon soured, with some newspapers accused of peddling offensive racial stereotypes and dishing out unfair criticism.

There were also reports of splits within the family and a growing rift between Harry and William.

Since revealing their plans, the couple had been living in a mansion on Canada’s Pacific west coast, visiting Britain only briefly this month.

It had been thought that they would continue to base themselves in Canada.

But the pair reportedly relocated to California by private jet earlier this month before the United States closed its northern border because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Meghan grew up in Los Angeles and her mother, Doria Ragland, still lives there. She also has a network of friends and work contacts there.

The couple’s initial announcement to quit Britain divided opinion and their move to California comes after Harry’s father tested positive for Covid-19 last week.

“Harry and Meghan have chosen celebrity over duty,” The Times said in an opinion piece on Monday.

“Making the move to California, and making it now, only inflames the irritation many feel over the couple’s actions in recent months.” — AFP