Prince Harry, 35, and Duchess Meghan, 38, have split from the British royal family and started a new life of financial independence in North America. What is now changing for both of them.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan: The Megxit is here Consequence one: No more appearances on behalf of Queen Elizabeth
Harry made more than 200 appearances in 2019 as a representative of Queen Elizabeth , 93, graduated; for Duchess Meghan there were more than 80. Highlight: An official Royal tour with Baby Archie in October to Africa. The royal hustle and bustle is now a thing of the past. Only at family celebrations such as Trooping The Color, the Queen's birthday parade, or the Christmas service in Sandringham will Harry and Meghan - presumably - be seen together with the other royals.
Harry + Meghan in AfricaReunited in South Africa70 pictures Consequence two: No more money from the tax fund
So far, professional expenses have been made by Harry and Meghan and renovation costs for their house in Windsor covered by the so-called Sovereign Grant, the annual donation for the royal family from taxpayers' money. As of April 1, Harry and Meghan are no longer favored.
Consequence three: No more offices in Buckingham Palace
Harry and Meghan have vacated their premises in the palace, which they only moved into in August 2019, and dismissed their employees. According to the British media, 15 people are said to have been affected. The couple writes on their official website sussexroyal.com that they are sad about this.
Consequence four: They now live in Los Angeles
Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they would split their time between the UK and North America. First, they extended their stay in Canada, which they had started in November 2019. At the end of March 2020, they moved on to Los Angeles. When Harry and Meghan visit England, they will be staying at Frogmore Cottage, their family home in Windsor.
Duchess Meghan + Prince HarryIs this what their new home in Malibu looks like? 14 pictures Consequence five: High security costs
In both England and Canada (belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations like England), the respective taxpayers paid for the security of Harry and Meghan. President Donald Trump, 73, rejected the fact that the USA would also contribute to the costs. A spokeswoman for Harry and Meghan said later that the couple had no plans to seek financial help from the US government. "Privately financed security measures" had been taken.
Duchess Meghan + Wallis SimpsonBetween heart and crown: 10 astonishing parallels 22 pictures Consequence six: "fair game" for paparazzi
There has been a deal between for over 40 years the royal family and the British press: the so-called "Royal Rota System". It states that selected representatives from print, TV, radio et cetera will be given the opportunity to receive information about the royals. Requirements: The "Chosen Ones" must share all received material with other members of their Media Sector. The number of press representatives at appointments remains manageable, but the output in the media is large.
As of today, Harry and Meghan are no longer part of this system and are distributing their information on their own, as they announce on their website sussexroyal.com.
Important things will also change for the Sussex family with regard to their privacy: In Great Britain there is a code of honor according to which members of the royal family - especially children - are particularly protected from paparazzi. There will be no special protection in the USA, on the contrary: Experts assume that the family in Los Angeles, the Mecca of showbiz, will become fair game.Consequence seven: A €2.7million bill
The former actress and the prince are reportedly to be reimbursed for costs incurred in refurbishing their family home, Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor. The sum amounts to 2.4 million pounds sterling (about 2.7 million euros) and was paid from the tax bracket in 2018/2019.
Consequence eight: The word "Royal" and "Her Royal Highness" are no longer used
Harry and Meghan retain the important title "His/Her Royal Highness". . However, you may not continue to use it commercially or publicly; he rests, so to speak.
Harry and Meghan's website also states that they "do not intend to use 'Sussex Royal' or any synonym of the word 'Royal' in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) (.. .)".
Background: The royal family is neutral, upright, independent and trustworthy. She stays with herself, is detached from everyday life and surrounded by a centuries-old myth that fascinates people all over the world, especially in the age of mass media. And above all, the royal family is one thing: not for sale.
The monarchy has to continuously modernize itself in order to legitimize itself, but for a royal highness to appear as a brand ambassador for Google or Apple or even to greet people from a cornflakes pack as an advertising face - currently utopian.
Consequence nine: You are under surveillance
As Harry and Meghan announced on their website sussexroyal, a twelve-month review phase has been agreed with the palace regarding the new roles of Harry and Meghan. Translated, this means: Buckingham Palace is watching you.
Consequence ten: Harry and Meghan earn their own money
According to their official website, Meghan and Harry will henceforth be "privately funded members of the royal family with permission to earn their own income and their own private, to pursue charitable interests."
The challenge for the couple from now on is to find sources of income that neither jeopardize the reputation of the British monarchy nor the financial support of Prince Charles, 71. Because: According to an official statement from Queen Elizabeth, 93, Harry and Meghan are staying , remain "distinguished members of my family" and, as mentioned, retain the title of Royal Highnesses. That obliges. Total independence? Still not possible for Harry and Meghan.
Tough negotiations at the palace"You'll never see Meghan on a cereal box"
Apart from that, Harry's sustainable tourism company Travalyst is being set up as an independent non-profit organization in the UK. Since the global outbreak of the coronavirus, he has been working with partners to better understand how he can help fight the Covid-19 pandemic amid the restrictions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, a spokesman said.
That will remain as it is for Harry and Meghan Duke and Prince titles will remain
Harry was a prince by birth and will remain so until his death. Despite the Megxit, he retains the title "Duke of Sussex" and Meghan the title "The Duchess of Sussex". The Queen bestowed these titles on her wedding in May 2018.
Harry and Duchess Meghan remain part of the royal family
Regardless of responsibilities within the institution, Harry as the grandson and baby Archie as the Queen's great-grandson will forever remain part of the Mountbatten-Windsor family. The Megxit does not cancel the blood relationship. That means at the same time: Harry and Meghan are still royals.
Harry and Archie retain their place in the line of succession
The line of succession is based on bloodline, i.e. biological relationship with Queen Elizabeth. Harry is currently sixth, Archie seventh.
Sources used: sussexroyal.com, Daily Mail, The Express, BBC, "Hello"-Magazinejre Gala
