IO – Prince Harry now lives in Canada with his wife Meghan and baby Archie, after the couple finalized the terms of their split from official British royal family duties.
On Sunday, Harry expressed “great sadness” about the developments at a charity event in London.
“Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding,” he said in a speech. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”
Harry emphasized that the decision “is not one I made lightly” during his speech.
“The UK is my home and a place that I love,” Harry said as quoted by CNN. “That will never change.”
“It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.”
The couple made the shock announcement on Instagram on January 8, revealing that they were stepping back from senior royal duties, and the Queen announced a transition period had been agreed Saturday.
Conversations with the pair had been going on for months, said the Monarch in a statement.
“I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family,” read the statement.
Under the terms of the deal, Harry and Meghan will no longer represent the Queen as working royals, splitting their time between the UK and North America as they work toward becoming financially independent.
The pair will no longer use their royal titles – His and Her Royal Highness – beginning this spring, and Buckingham Palace announced Saturday they would instead be addressed as “Harry, Duke of Sussex” and “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.” (*/rp)
Prince Harry “The UK is my home and the place that I love”
