Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Will Change Certain Protocols After Stepping Back From Royal Family

Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Will Change Certain Protocols After Stepping Back From Royal Family

Their way! Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan plan to alter how they handle certain areas of their public life after stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family. “In 2020 Harry and Meghan will be changing how they work with the media, to ensure diverse and open access to their work,” royal reporter Omid Scobie tweeted on Wednesday, January 8. The journalist noted that the shift will occur “over the months ahead, through a phased approach.” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will “engage with grassroots media organisations and young, up-and-coming journalists; invite specialist media to specific events/engagements to give greater access to their cause-driven activities, widening the spectrum of news coverage; provide access to credible media outlets focused on objective news reporting to cover key moments and events; continue to share information directly to the wider public via their official communications channels; no longer participate in the Royal Rota system.” The Royal Rota is a pool in which local, regional and national media outlets register for opportunities to cover royal engagements. The news broke shortly after Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, announced via Instagram that they intend to retreat from the royal family after “many months of reflection and internal discussions.” [jwplayer 8kQ9cdhz-l3ahXupL] “We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” their statement read. “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.” The couple went on to confirm an upcoming move. “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,” the statement continued. “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.” Meghan and Harry, who tied the knot in May 2018 and are parents of 8-month-old son Archie, further vowed to “continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties.” The change follows a hectic year for the pair. Harry and Meghan opened up about media scrutiny in October 2019 and later skipped Christmas with the royal family in favor of spending time with Archie and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, in Canada. Scroll to find out more about the big adjustments ahead for Harry and Meghan.

Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Will Change Certain Protocols After Stepping Back From Royal Family

Their way! Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan plan to alter how they handle certain areas of their public life after stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family. “In 2020 Harry and Meghan will be changing how they work with the media, to ensure diverse and open access to their work,” royal reporter Omid Scobie tweeted on Wednesday, January 8. The journalist noted that the shift will occur “over the months ahead, through a phased approach.” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will “engage with grassroots media organisations and young, up-and-coming journalists; invite specialist media to specific events/engagements to give greater access to their cause-driven activities, widening the spectrum of news coverage; provide access to credible media outlets focused on objective news reporting to cover key moments and events; continue to share information directly to the wider public via their official communications channels; no longer participate in the Royal Rota system.” The Royal Rota is a pool in which local, regional and national media outlets register for opportunities to cover royal engagements. The news broke shortly after Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, announced via Instagram that they intend to retreat from the royal family after “many months of reflection and internal discussions.” [jwplayer 8kQ9cdhz-l3ahXupL] “We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” their statement read. “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.” The couple went on to confirm an upcoming move. “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,” the statement continued. “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.” Meghan and Harry, who tied the knot in May 2018 and are parents of 8-month-old son Archie, further vowed to “continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties.” The change follows a hectic year for the pair. Harry and Meghan opened up about media scrutiny in October 2019 and later skipped Christmas with the royal family in favor of spending time with Archie and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, in Canada. Scroll to find out more about the big adjustments ahead for Harry and Meghan.

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Financially Independent

The royals explained in detail via their website why they opted to step back from the family. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex take great pride in their work and are committed to continuing their charitable endeavours as well as establishing new ones. In addition, they value the ability to earn a professional income, which in the current structure they are prohibited from doing,” the website read. “For this reason they have made the choice to become members of the Royal Family with financial independence. Their Royal Highnesses feel this new approach will enable them to continue to carry out their duties for Her Majesty The Queen, while having the future financial autonomy to work externally.”

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How They Previously Received Funding

Harry and Meghan received 95 percent of their office expenditure from “income allocated by HRH The Prince of Wales, generated through the Duchy of Cornwall.” The remaining five percent came from the Sovereign Grant, a portion of public funds given to Queen Elizabeth II to cover official expenses.

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Taxpayer Implications

“The contribution from UK taxpayers towards the full overhead of the British Monarchy is equivalent to approximately £1 per head per year,” the website explained. “The British Royal Family generates an estimated £1.8 billion a year in tourism revenues for The United Kingdom.” Furthermore, “public funding has never been used, nor would it ever be used for private expenditure by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who also do not receive any tax privileges.”

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The Frogmore Cottage Factor

Frogmore Cottage, where Harry and Meghan live, still belongs to Queen Elizabeth, 93. However, with her “permission,” the duo will keep the property as their official residence across the pond “so that their family will always have a place to call home in the United Kingdom.”

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Why They Really Moved

The website clarified why Meghan and Harry moved to Frogmore Cottage before Archie’s arrival, noting that their previous home at Nottingham Cottage “could not accommodate their growing family.” Apartment 1 in Kensington Palace — near Prince William and Duchess Kate — would have cost double the price to renovate too.

The refurbishment work was funded by the Sovereign Grant, whereas fixtures, furnishings and other personal touches were paid for privately by the duke and duchess.

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Travel Costs

After their split from the royal family, “all travel arrangements undertaken by The Duke and Duchess in their private time have always been and will continue to be paid for privately and not by UK taxpayers.” As far as their preferences, they will choose “commercial air carriers, local trains and fuel-efficient vehicles, be it for official or personal travel.” Official overseas visits will be paid for by the Sovereign Grant.

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Security Costs

Armed security is mandated for Meghan and Harry due to their status as internationally protected people. However, the palace does not comment on security arrangements due to privacy risks.

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Their Connection to the Monarchy

It’s not completely over. The twosome have not cut ties with the monarchy. In fact, they will continue to carry the torch by “supporting their patronages and carrying out works for The Monarchy within the UK or abroad, as called upon.”

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First Timers?

Harry and Meghan are not exactly blazing a new trail: “There is precedent for this structure and applies to other current members of the Royal Family who support the monarch and also have full time jobs external to their commitment to the monarchy.”