By Marie Claire
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Earlier this week, news emerged that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal departure will be permanent.
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Buckingham Palace issued a statement outlining the news and what it means for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who will lose their royal sponsorships and remaining honorary titles.
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In response, Harry and Meghan released a tense statement that sources close to the royal family say left Harry’s brother, Prince William, “very sad and genuinely shocked”.
Last week, Buckingham Palace released its statement about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal departure becoming permanent – and what that meant for their remaining titles and sponsorships. Specifically, Harry is being stripped of his honorary military titles and both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are being removed from their official royal patrons.
In its official statement on the matter, the Palace wrote:
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed His Majesty, the Queen, that they will not return as active members of the Royal Family.
After conversations with the duke, the queen wrote confirming that, by departing from the work of the royal family, it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties inherent in a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and royal sponsorships held by the Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to His Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of the Royal Family.
While everyone is saddened by their decision, the duke and duchess remain very dear members of the family. “
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In response, Harry and Meghan released a brief (and widely interpreted as tense) statement of their own. “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duties and services in the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of their official role. All can live a life of service. Service is universal, “said a spokesman for the couple.
Harry and Meghan’s statement allegedly disturbed some in royal circles – including Harry’s brother, Prince William. According to a Sunday Times In the report, William is “very sad and genuinely shocked” by the statement, which another source close to the royal family described as “petulant and insulting to the queen”.
Explaining the indignation that the Sussex statement aroused in royal circles, another source close to the situation said, “You don’t respond to the Queen – it just isn’t done.” According to page six, William is not alone and other members of the royal family are also “shocked” not only by the fact that Harry and Meghan have responded publicly to the palace statement, but by the tone of the statement that their spokesman shared.
In the wake of the royal exit, William would have fought to break his relationship with Harry.
“After he got over the anger at how things were going, he was left with his brother’s absence,” explained a royal aide. “They had shared everything about their lives – an office, a foundation, meetings most days – and it was a lot of fun along the way. He will miss it forever.”
William also feels more pressure personally now that Harry has moved away from royal duties. A friend of William said that the Duke of Cambridge “definitely feels the pressure now that everything is on him. His future looks different because of his brother’s choices – it is not easy.”
We hope that any additional tension between royalty is just the result of communication failures and that they will be able to work things out when the trip becomes possible again.
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