THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX
AFTER ANNOUNCING THEIR BABY JOY, THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX SAW THEIR PATRONAGES AND HONOURS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM
Ayear after they announced their shock decision to step down from their royal duties and relocate to the US, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed that they would not be returning as working royals.
The Queen expressed her sadness at the decision in a statement via the palace and revealed that as a consequence, the couple would be stripped of their royal patronages and honorary military appointments.
But Katie Nicholl, royal expert and author of Harry And Meghan (Revised): Life, Loss And Love, insists that the couple know their freedom comes at a price and the success of their new life in the US has helped cushion the blow.
“I think this was inevitable,” Katie tells OK!. “The Queen made it clear from the beginning what she expects from the royal family. She can offer the patronages as a gift and they are hers to take away. The fact that Harry and Meghan have made such success of their lives in the US in less than a year and have become financially independent with exciting projects in
the pipeline probably means they were ready to cut the apron strings. They’ve realised freedom comes at a price.”
The statement via the palace read, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family.
“Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family,” it read.
A statement was issued shortly after by a spokesman for Harry and Meghan, which was sent to their trusted media partners.
It said, “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role. We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
Last month, royal sources claimed Harry was desperate to hold on to his treasured military roles of Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington and Commodore-in-chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command.
Some of Harry’s patronages include the Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving, The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, The Rugby Football Union, The Rugby Football League, The Royal National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Meanwhile, Meghan accrued four royal patronages during her short stint as a senior royal for the Mayhew, The National Theatre, Smart Works and The Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Their roles were examined for a 12-month review after the Queen was said to have made it clear that the couple could not operate a “one foot in, one foot out” policy.
Katie adds, “Their patronages were the one sticking point for Harry and Meghan and the fact they can’t retain them will come as a disappointment. They wanted to still be able to serve the Queen. But I’m told they still accept and respect her decision.”
The shocking blow came just days after Harry and Meghan – who are already parents to two-year-old son Archie – announced they are expecting their second child, releasing an intimate black-and-white image of the couple and Meghan’s blossoming bump.
The pair also confirmed their plans for a sit-down interview with chat show queen Oprah Winfrey. The conversation is due to be aired on US channel CBS on 7 March in
‘THEY HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE QUEEN AND STILL REMAIN CLOSE’
a show called Oprah With Meghan And Harry. Harry, 36, will join his wife and the TV host – who attended their 2018 wedding and is now their neighbour in Montecito, California – to open up about their joint decision to relocate and their “hopes and dreams for their expanding family”.
Oprah’s best friend and journalist Gayle King confirmed this week that Oprah has been given complete freedom to ask the couple anything during their time together. But Katie insists that while the interview is an unconventional move for any royal, Meghan and Harry will be at great pains to not do anything to embarrass the Queen, who they still both greatly admire.
She claims, “There aren’t going to be any surprises. Meghan and Harry are doing this with Oprah because she’s a friend. She’s not going to make them look bad or try to trip them up. Meghan is far too clever for that, and I believe they’ll have well-rehearsed answers, which I’m sure will have had a hefty legal eye over them. There’s a risk factor attached with an interview like this, which is why they’ve chosen Oprah. It’s not in their interest to upset the Queen or cause trouble.
“Yes, we’ll hear a bit about family life – Oprah will have to ask those questions, some of which will be quite difficult to answer – but they will answer them and I think the answers will be rehearsed and carefully scripted. Meghan and Harry both have great respect for the Queen and despite what has happened in the past year, have remained close. They’d never dream of intentionally hurting her.”
Meghan and Harry’s baby joy comes eight months after the pair suffered a devastating miscarriage. In an open letter with the New York Times, the duchess detailed the grief she and Harry suffered after the loss. She wrote, “Sitting in a hospital bed, watching my husband’s heart break as he tried to hold the shattered pieces of mine, I realised that the only way to begin to heal is to first ask, ‘Are you OK?’”
Katie also revealed to OK! that the Queen shares a special bond with their son Archie after spending much of his early life together when they were all living on the Windsor Estate. And despite her joy over Meghan’s pregnancy, Katie claims the baby news will be tinged with a little sadness over the prospect of another great-grandchild living across the pond.
“The family will be over the moon for Harry and Meghan. It’s the tenth great-grandchild for the Queen and fifth grandchild for the Prince of Wales,” says Katie. “It will be a real moment to celebrate. It’s just tinged with sadness that they won’t get to see this grandchild as much as they might like. The Queen adores her family and is happiest when she’s surrounded by them.”
Despite their once-close relationship, it’s been reported Harry and Prince William’s relationship has been fractured since his decision to step down from royal life. Royal sources say the brothers are back on speaking terms, but Katie believes things may never go back to the way things were – and admits the brothers are simply leading different lives.
“My understanding is that while there certainly was a stage where things were difficult between them, things are much better now,” says Katie. “But they’re not back to what they were and it’s not helped by the fact that Harry is in a different time zone. Don’t forget Harry said he was on a very different path to William and in the past year we’ve really seen evidence of that.”
Last week, as OK! went to press, Prince Harry’s grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, was being treated in hospital after falling ill. Royal sources claimed that Harry is now self-isolating in his Californian home with Meghan and Archie so he can make a quick return to the UK if Prince Philip’s health deteriorates.