WHAT MEGHAN WANTS, MEGHAN GETS
HARRY and Meghan got their way at the Royal Family’s crisis summit yesterday — but the Queen made it plain she is deeply upset they are quitting.
After the Sandringham talks, Her Majesty released a statement saying the couple will be allowed to step down from their duties and spend time in Canada.
But she said: “Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life.”
The couple will now go through a "period of transition" that will see them "create a new life as a young family" and spend time in both Canada and the UK.
The Queen said she was “entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family”.
The summit, which took almost four hours, took place between the Queen, Prince Charles, and brothers William and Harry.
The fine detail of the agreement — especially the controversial issue of who will fund the couple’s new life — will be thrashed out over the next few days.
As the unprecedented summit took place yesterday:
- The Sun learned that Harry and Meghan will initially stay in Canada but want to eventually make Los Angeles their home.
- Canadian officials said they were “undecided” about whether they would fund the couple’s future security costs.
- Meghan joined the summit by conference call for some — but not all — of the meeting.
- Angry Prince Philip sneaked out of Sandringham just minutes before Harry arrived for the talks.
- Home Secretary Priti Patel dismissed claims Meghan had been a victim of racist media coverage.
- Harry and William released a rare joint statement denying reports their relationship was damaged by “bullying”.
In a deeply personal and sad statement, she said she was “entirely supportive” of their bid to “create a new life”.
But she emphasised that she — and the rest of the royals including Charles and William — wanted the couple to stay.
The monarch made clear her deep disappointment at their decision after yesterday’s Sandringham summit.
But the outcome is that “what Meghan wants, Meghan gets” — the line Harry infamously uttered in a row after the Duchess was stopped from wearing an emerald tiara at her wedding in May 2018.
Echoing Harry and Meghan’s statement last week, the Queen said there would be a “transition period” while the details are being hammered out. It is hoped that will be “within days”.
Although she said the Sussexes did not want to accept any public money, it was unclear last night whether this just referred to an end to the Sovereign Grant — handed to Her Majesty from the Government to pay for the royals’ work.
She did not say what will happen to the approximate £2.3million Harry and Meghan are given by Prince Charles from the Duchy of Cornwall — which many view as public money.
The Queen mentioned “family” eight times in her statement, to refute any accusation that Harry and Meghan had been driven out.
She said she still regarded them as intrinsic parts of her family.
In an unusually personal message signed off by Her Majesty, she said: “Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.
“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working
"Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.
“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.
“It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.
“These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”
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But last night — just four hours after Harry arrived at Sandringham for the showdown in the Long Library — his father left to return to his Scottish home, Birkhall.
And William left for his Norfolk bolthole Anmer Hall alone.
Neither brother nor father seemed to want to spend any more time with Harry.
On a seismic day for the Royal Family, Harry, 35, had been smuggled into Sandringham in a blacked out Range Rover along an unused track at 11.20am.
He entered through lichen- covered gates normally kept locked at the south of the Norfolk estate.
Accompanying him were the Sussexes’ new private secretary Fiona Mcilwham and former private secretary Sam Cohen.
William’s private secretary Simon Case was also present at the meeting, along with Clive Alderton for Charles and Edward Young for the Queen.
A well-placed source told The Sun that Meghan, 38, did dial in by conference call from Vancouver Island for some — but not all — of the meeting.
A royal source said: “This was about a family coming together to try to heal hurt and be constructive face-to-face.
“They’ve worked out the main issue — that Harry and Meghan want to break away and the Queen has agreed to that.
“Now the finer details need to be worked out by their staff and by the Government.”
Harry will return to Canada once his royal engagements this week are finished.
He is hosting the Rugby League World Cup draw at Buckingham Palace this Thursday.
But Harry and Meghan plan to establish their home and office in Los Angeles, not Canada.
THE NEXT STEPS: What today's summit means for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's future
The Queen tonight made it clear she wanted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to remain 'full-time members' of the Royal Family.
However, the couple stuck to their guns during the crunch talks at Sandringham - insisting they wanted to live a more "independent life".
This means they will spend time in Canada and the UK as they raise their son Archie.
During the summit at the Norfolk estate, they also insisted they would become financially independent - no longer relying on the public purse.
And while Her Majesty's statement hinted at her sadness that Meghan and Harry would be moving on, the Royal Family can now work on the finer details over just what the couple's new life will look like.
Royal aides are now expected to thrash out the finer details of just how the couple will create a "new life as a young family" together.
These discussions are likely to include whether the couple continue to use their HRH titles, and how they will keep their royal duties separate from their private work.
Other details to be discussed are expected to be how their security will be handled, and what, if anything, will happen to their patronages.
The 93-year-old monarch made it clear she wanted to see the "complex matters" to be reached as soon as possible.
A further announcement as to the couple's future is expected to be revealed "in the coming days".
Friends claim that couple have only indicated Canada as it is part of the Commonwealth. Meghan is intent on the USA being her home — and they will move there as soon as they can.
A royal source added: “They went to Canada because they were loaned a big house for free, but their work will be in the USA and so that is where they intend to make their home.
“Canada is a ruse as it’s the Commonwealth so at least gives the fig leaf that they still care.”
The Queen’s statement, acknowledging Harry and Meghan's ambition to become financially independent, appears to give them licence to strike commercial deals as part of their Sussex brand.
The pair already have a joint wealth estimated at around £18million.
Harry inherited nearly £7million from his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, but this will have grown with investment.
He is also thought to have had an inheritance from his great grandmother the Queen Mother, so is believed to have around £10million to £15million.
The royal source added: “Other members of the family have worked — like Zara Tindall — but this is unprecedented because they’ve said North America and the US is not even a realm.
They’ve just got to negotiate a path.
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“Whether you’re Obama or Clinton, you can earn a ton of money but the big question is doing what?
“Former US Presidents are their model. Crucially, you have to be transparent. The huge irony is they want financial independence to avoid the scrutiny and transparency because that’s painful for them. It’s achievable but it will require a lot of good decisions and smart advice.
“They will definitely do a TV deal. That’s where you get the bucks from.”
