Queen Elizabethis reacting to the announcement that her grandsonPrince Harryand his wifeMeghan Markleare“stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family.”
Just hours afterHarry and Meghan shared their planto “carve out a progressive new role,” the monarch, 93, says the conversation is still in “early” stages.
“Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through,” the Queen’s office of Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Wednesday.
“There is a lot of hurt about this,” one royal source tells PEOPLE.
In addition to redefining their royal roles, Harry and Meghan also plan to become financially independent from the Crown. They also are planning a move to North America, where they will spend their time when they are not in the U.K.
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“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages,” they wrote on Instagram. “This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.
“We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”
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“There hasn’t been this complete 180,” a source told PEOPLE. “Nothing has changed. They don’t speak, no one is checking in, no one is texting.”
Prince Harry and son Archie.Sussex Royals
Meghan and Harry spent the holiday season with their 8-month-old son Archie on Vancouver Island in Canada after announcing their decision to skip Christmas with the Queen and the rest of the royal family.
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Tension between Harry and his brotherPrince Williamhas also added to the prince’s feelings of isolation, say insiders. For Meghan, who has been raising her son in a new country far from her L.A. home, the distance from both of their families has been a strain.
source: people.com
