Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to take a step back from the royal family has caused quite a stir, due, in part, to the fact that the couple did not consult with members of the family before making the announcement via social media, according to an insider close to the situation.
But since then, Queen Elizabeth II has finally broken her silence on the couple’s decision, in a statement obtained by Fox News.
“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,” she said in the statement.
She continued, adding that “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.”
In order to establish exactly what financial independence would look like for the couple, The Queen has ordered for a meeting with Harry as well as other members of the royal family.
The couple expressed on their joint Instagram page that they were taking a step back to move to Canada and explore other ventures outside of the kingdom. One of those ventures being Meghan’s new gig as a voiceover actress for Disney. The couple is also planning to split their time between Canada and the United Kingdom.
