![Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back from "senior" royal duties](https://dpdajlq3ew794.cloudfront.net/20200108110434/Screen-Shot-2020-01-08-at-11.04.09-AM.png?format=auto&width=1920)
On the heels of their recent Christmas holiday in Canada, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced on social media that they are stepping back from their “senior” royal duties.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” they wrote on Instagram. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”
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The royal duo said moving forward, they “plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.”
This geographic balance, they explained, “will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they “look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and all relevant parties.”
Until then, they concluded, “please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”