Prince Harry and Meghan to step back and move to Canada with baby Archie
In a shock announcement that caught even Buckingham Palace by surprise, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are stepping back from their roles as senior royals and will establish a residence in Canada.
Enough is enough
This huge news was announced on Instagram a couple of hours ago, in the wake of the couple’s extended trip to North America over the festive break.
The Sussexes say they aim to split their time between the UK and Canada, but considering they’ve both made it very clear they are uncomfortable with the way the UK media and critics have treated them, we expect that the majority of their time will be spent in North America.
The pair have always aimed to keep Archie out of the media spotlight and raise him as a private citizen, and perhaps raising their son in Canada is the best way to do that.
Living in Canada allows them to escape the hyper-scrutiny their relationship has endured thus far. The former Suits star also has plenty of Canadian friends and lived in Toronto during her TV days.
Meghan confirmed her love for the country when she and Harry visited Canada’s High Commission on their return to London earlier this week.
She thanked Canada for hosting her family, noting the warmth and hospitality they received over Thanksgiving, Christmas and into the new year was “unbelievable”.
Meghan said they had an “incredible time” and loved the “beauty of Canada”.
“To see Archie go ‘ah’ when you walk by, and just see how stunning it is … it meant a lot to us,” she said, the BBC reports.
A tipping point
In the UK they’ve lived in homes that the public can trot around the perimeter of and had responsibilities which meant they were expected to give of themselves very generously.
They’ve now reached a tipping point and having time to reflect away from the spotlight has culminated in today’s announcement.
Their statement read:
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
“It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. 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. 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.” – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex”
Buckingham Palace scrambled to release their own brief statement in the wake of Harry and Meg’s reveal, and commentators suggest they were not forewarned of the pair’s big news.
“Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage,” the rather terse Buckingham Palace media release read.
“We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”
It’s a bold and determined move from the couple and gives ‘The Firm’ no option but to accept their decision. The pair shared an old photo taken when they announced their engagement, perhaps as a reminder of how brilliantly things started out with the press, and perhaps also proof that the idea of sharing new images might be a bit unbearable. They’ve clearly reached their limit.
The move is already being compared to the 1936 abdication of King Edward VIII, which allowed him the freedom to marry the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. (A move which eventually led to the young Elizabeth — Edward’s niece — becoming the Queen when her own father King George died.)
But Harry and Meghan’s decision is not really comparable. This is 2020, for starters and times have changed. Also? The tabloid media didn’t chase high profile people mercilessly back then.
Harry is way, way down the royal totem pole when it comes to succession. He’s sixth in line for the crown after his baby nephew Louis and would likely never in his lifetime have been in line to be King.
It’s no wonder he’s weighed things up and opted for a more independent and meaningful life.
