Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Will Not Use HRH Titles, and Will Repay $3 Million of Public Money

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not use their HRH titles, receive no public funding for royal duties, and will repay $3 million of public money used to refurbish their home.

Tim Teeman

Senior Editor and Writer

Tom Sykes

REUTERS

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their HRH titles, and will repay the 2.4 million of public money ($3.1 million) that was spent on their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage, Buckingham Palace announced Saturday.

The terms of Harry and Meghan’s exit from their royal roles will also include the couple not receiving any public funds for royal duties.

They will still be known as the “Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” but will officially no longer be “working members of the royal family,” the Palace said. The couple will now be known as Harry, The Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex.

    The funding for their security arrangements remains unclear, as does the level of their funding from Harry's father, Prince Charles, via the Duchy of Cornwall. Also unclear is whether Harry and Meghan intend to operate under the commercial auspices of “Sussex Royal”—as per their new website—given they are no longer working members of the royal family.

    It is understood they intend to spend most of their time in North America, not the U.K.

    The terms and conditions of the couple’s exit take effect in the spring.

    A statement issued by Buckingham Palace read: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

    “As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties.  

    “With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.

    “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.

    “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.

    “Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly-funded security.

    This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020.”

    “I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family”

    In a personal statement, the queen said: “Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.

    “I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”