Last week the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared more details about their new roles which are set to take effect from April 1.
The couple confirmed on their website, Sussex Royal, that their decision to step back was to be able to “live a more independent life as a family, by removing the supposed ‘public interest’ justification for media intrusion into their lives.”
The extensive statement also references their HRH titles, explaining while they will formally retain their His And Her Royal Highness prefix, they will no longer be able to actively use the prefix “as they will no longer be working members of the family as of Spring 2020.”
However, many believe the couple have made a subtle dig at the fact they feel they have been treated differently from other royals – for example Harry’s cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – in a preceding paragraph which reads:
“While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place.”
While they are correct that Prince Andrew’s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie hold HRH titles while also working, the main difference could be that the princesses are not seen as profiting from their royal status – Beatrice is currently vice-president of partnership and strategy at Afiniti, a data and software company with a focus on developing AI, while Eugenie works as a director at an art gallery in London.
Meanwhile, The Sussexes’ future roles are likely to rely on who they are – with the Queen and Buckingham Palace likely uncomfortable with the idea of the couple profiting off their royal status. It could therefore be seen as quite a significant difference in circumstances.
Harry and Meghan have seemingly compared the situation of their ‘HRH’ titles with that of their cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, noting that they are being treated differently. (Images: Getty)
Similarly, the couple will be forced to re-brand, dropping the ‘Royal’ from ‘Sussex Royal’ which they currently use for their social media account and website, and was the plan for their non-profit organisation before their new agreement was made in January.
Their website explains Harry and Meghan plan to “develop a new way to effect change and complement the efforts made by so many excellent foundations globally”.
The couple plan to create a non-profit entity in addition to their cause-driven work and explain due to specific UK government rules surrounding the use of the word ‘Royal’, they have agreed that their non-profit organisation will not utilise the name ‘Sussex Royal’ or any other iteration of ‘Royal’.
Harry and Meghan have released an extensive statement about their future roles. (Image: Getty)
From April 1, the couple officially steps back from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family with the couple no longer undertaking official duties on behalf of The Queen or The Commonwealth, however, they will retain their patronages.
Harry is also set to retain his rank as Major as well as his honorary ranks, however during the 12-month period of review his military appointments will not be used. He will, of course, remain in the line of succession for the throne.
The couple also expressed their sadness at the closing of their Buckingham Palace office, where they were forced to let go of 15 loyal and dedicated staff members.
The couple, who are currently staying in Canada with nine-month-old Archie, are set to travel to the UK this week to complete several of engagements before they step back.
Last week Prince Harry also teased a collaboration with US music icon Jon Bon Jovi as part of the upcoming Invictus Games in May.
Posted to the @sussexroyal Instagram account, a video of an amusing imagined text message conversation between Harry and Bon Jovi was shared, which revealed the pair is planning to meet up on February 28 in London.
WATCH: Prince Harry and Jon Bon Jovi tease their upcoming collaboration. Story continues below…
According to People, Harry and Bon Jovi will team up for a recording session to re-record the rockstar’s song Unbroken with the Invictus Games Choir, which will be released in support of the Invictus Games Foundation.
The upcoming Invictus Games will kick-off in The Hague, The Netherlands in May. Last year, to launch the one-year countdown to the Games, Prince Harry travelled to the European country just days after Archie was born.
It was also the Invictus Games back in 2017 that Harry and Meghan made their first public appearance as a couple.
