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13th Jan 2020

The Queen releases official statement on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s future within the royal family

Cathy Donohue

Following talks held at Sandringham, the Queen has issued a statement regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

A meeting involving the Queen Prince Charles, his two sons Prince William and Prince Harry and senior staff has resulted in the following statement from Queen Elizabeth II.

The 93-year-old has said that she would have preferred that the couple remain as full-time working members of the royal family but she understands their “wish to live a more independent life”.

Below is her statement in full:

“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.

“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.

“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.

“It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.

“These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days”.

This is the latest development in what has been a tumultuous week for the royals, starting last Wednesday when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their decision to stand down as senior royals.

They released a statement via their official Instagram account, a move that came as a shock to other members of the family, including the Queen.

You can read their full statement here.