Harry and Meghan stepping back from royal life

For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, life on the throne hasn’t been all about the royal treatment, regularly facing media scrutiny and battling the amount of attention they’ve received.

On Sunday evening, Prince Harry made his first speech since he and Meghan made the shocking announcement that they wanted to stand down from their positions as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, saying that they are “taking a leap of faith” by stepping out of the royal spotlight.

The Prince made his speech at a fundraising reception in central London for Sentebale, the charity he co-founded which helps children living with HIV in southern Africa.

“I can only imagine what you may have heard and perhaps read over the past few weeks”, said Harry, adding that he wanted to share as much of the truth as he could, “not as a prince, or a duke, but as Harry.”

The prince said he wanted to make it clear that he and Markle were “not walking away” but making the decision to step back from the Royal Family in order “to take a step forward into what (he hopes) can be a more peaceful life.”

After having their son, Archie, and years of apparent public scrutiny, the Duke and Duchess have made it known they wish to divide their time between the U.K. and North America. In her earlier years, Markle was an actress on the TV show Suits, finding home in Toronto with family in California and Mexico. The prince has previously said his heart lies in Africa.

According to their website, the couple’s goal is to continue the charity work they believe in so passionately and to “become financially independent.”

The prince and Markle had hoped to come to an arrangement where they could continue serving the Queen without public funding, however in his speech, Prince Harry said it wouldn’t be possible.

On Saturday Buckingham Palace announced that in the spring of 2020 the Duke and Duchess will relinquish their HRH titles, withdraw from royal duties (including official military appointments) and no longer receive public funds for royal duties.

Her Majesty The Queen gave her official statement also on Saturday saying: 

“Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family.

Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.

I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.

I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. 

It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”