On January 9, 2020, Harry & Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced their decision to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent. What followed was worldwide surprise, the trending hashtag #Megxit, comparisons with Rahul & Anjali from K3G and intense talks to broker a deal for the future.
According to CNN, the agreement states that the couple can no longer use the titles “His and Her Royal Highness”. In addition, they will have to forego their royal duties, the Sovereign Grant and pay rent for their Frogmore Cottage residence on Windsor Estate. Last night, at a private dinner for his charity Sentebale in London, Prince Harry opened up about how they arrived at this difficult decision and their goals moving forward.
The Guardian quoted him saying,
“I want you to hear the truth from me, as much as I can share – not as a prince, or a duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years – but with a clearer perspective.”
“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always got it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. What I want to make clear is we’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you. Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”
BBC quoted him adding,
“I’ve accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”
“When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing. You’ve looked out for me for so long, but the media is a powerful force, and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us.”
“I will always have the utmost respect for my grandmother, my commander in chief, and I am incredibly grateful to her and the rest of my family for the support they have shown Meghan and I over the last few months. I will continue to be the same man who holds his country dear and dedicates his life to supporting the causes, charities and military communities that are so important to me.”
He concluded by saying,
“We are taking a leap of faith – thank you for giving me the courage to take this next step.”
The Twitterati thought his speech was heartwarming and filled with raw emotions.
Moving and honest speech from Prince Harry delivered with real warmth…👏👏👏 https://t.co/ihBEHnprzz
— SerenaKutchinsky (@SKutchinsky) January 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/lucy_elizabeth0/status/1219048734694289409
Prince Harry ‘s speech at the Sentebale Dinner,a man fighting for his wife and kid I stan😭😭🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️
— Peggy.M.Mafadza (@Miss____Sue) January 20, 2020
Prince Harry’s speech is so full of love and I honestly hope he is able to carry out even more amazing charity work than before. People will still find something to blame Meghan Markle for from these words but whatever. #harryandmegan pic.twitter.com/QB6kERH16P
— Nola Thee Journalist (@NolaMarianna) January 19, 2020
Prince Harry gave up an 88 million dollar brand for love, fellas we gotta be better with the remote.
— VanLathan (@VanLathan) January 19, 2020
We hope that the couple gets much-needed respite from the intense financial and media scrutiny they have faced in the past.