The monarchy can be a touchy subject, with some folks having very strong opinions about its place in the modern era. Despite your feelings on the subject, one thing is known – the Royal Family is always under scrutiny, and their activities and life are bound by tradition.
Well, today that tradition was broken with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Dutchess of Sussex, announcing that they will be “stepping back” from the Royal Family and its responsibilities.
The headline-grabbing couple made the announcement on their Instagram page, @sussexroyal.
Their union has always been somewhat unconventional as far as Royals go, with tabloid lawsuits and open statements about the struggle of being in the public eye. Their very relationship was a break from tradition, with Meghan being a popular, biracial American actress. Since entering the relationship with the Prince, she was publicly attacked in the press and even by her own family.
Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, was also a victim of this invasive tabloid treatment, which ultimately resulted in the car accident that led to her death in 1997. This is largely why the Prince is so protective of his family, as he stated in a documentary interview in 2019.
The couple had a son, Archie, in 2019. According to their Instagram statement, “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”.
They also state their intention to balance their time between North America and the U.K., prompting many to speculate they mean Canada, due to the Dutchess’ ties to the country.
Harry and Meghan have been fan favorites, partly because they are unconventional and seem to prioritize their family over tradition. This is yet another move in that direction, and will surely result in a lot of support in their favor from people everywhere.