Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been given the green light to broker lucrative commercial deals which could see them net millions – but their moneymaking projects will be scrutinised by the Queen after a year.
Last night’s historic agreement ruled the couple will drop their HRH titles, pay back £2.4million of taxpayer cash, and no longer receive public funds.
In exchange, they have been allowed to quit frontline duties and given licence to expand their Sussex Royal brand which is believed to be worth a fortune.
Yet Her Majesty, who is believed to be anxious the couple could use their royal credentials to line their pockets, will be watching them closely.
For insiders told MailOnline that the blueprint thrashed out at Sandringham yesterday is subject to an annual review in the Spring of 2021, although a date has not been cemented yet.
Already, Meghan’s fashion designer friend Misha Nonoo hinted she was poised to ‘collaborate’ with the couple.
As she jetted to Canada, where the Duchess is looking after Archie, Nonoo posted on Instagram: Hi guys, we are working on a very special collaboration’.
Commentator Carole Malone angrily tweeted: ‘So Harry and Meghan haven’t actually been stripped of their HRH title.
‘They will keep HRH in name but will not use it. So how is that going to be monitored as they jet around the world making millions?’
Minutes after the Queen’s announcement, a communiqué on the Sussexes website referred to the couple as ‘Their Royal Highness’, immediately sparking confusion.
But it is understood they will abandon using the title this spring when Harry and Meghan officially cut ties with the Family.
While last night’s statement fleshed out the basic blueprint of the Sussex’s future, some areas remained vague:
1. Will Harry and Meghan continue receiving money from the Duchy of Cornwall?
The couple are bankrolled around £2million a year from Prince Charles’ private estate, which is expected to continue.
But this is a drop in the ocean to the millions they are estimated to be worth now they are free to strike commercial deals.
They have made clear their desire to become ‘financially independent’ and will pay back the £2.4million of Sovereign Grant money used to refurbish Frogmore Cottage.
2. Who will pay for the couple’s protection?
Buckingham Palace said it does not comment on security matters. It is not clear who will foot their protection bill which is estimated to spiral up to £7million.
However the most touted suggestion is that British and Canadian taxpayers will split the financial burden.
3. Why have the couple been allowed to keep their HRH titles?
Palace sources clarified that the couple are not going to use their HRH titles because they will not be full-time working royals acting on behalf of the Queen.
However, they are still technically members of the Royal Family, in the same way Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have the HRH title, but do not perform duties.
When Sarah Ferguson and Princess Diana divorced Andrew and Charles, respectively, they were stripped of their HRH titles because they had separated from their royal husbands.
4. How much control will the Queen have over Harry and Meghan’s commercial deals?
Insiders told MailOnline yesterday’s finalised agreement will be up for scrutiny in an annual review next year. If the Queen feels the couple have taken commercialised the royal brand to line their pockets, she could move to row back on the deal.
The couple (pictured in London last week), who will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring
The Duke and Duchess’ new website sussexroyal.com has been updated following the Queen’s statement, saying: ‘In line with the statement by Her Majesty The Queen, information on the roles and work of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be updated on this website in due course’
The historic deal, which was hammered out at Sandringham yesterday, also gives the couple licence to broker lucrative commercial deals, prompting concern they could row back on their pledge not to use the titles if doing so could bolster their brand and net them millions
The couple have been allowed to retain their HRH titles but agreed not to use them, Buckingham Palace confirmed to a furious backlash.
The couple will be known as Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their new independent lives away from royal duties.
Last night’s statement from the Queen said they will ‘not use their HRH titles’, which appeared to suggest sacrificing the three-letter prefix was the price of their newfound freedom.
But the Palace and Sussex households have now been accused of purposefully fudging the statement after it transpired Harry and Meghan have not been stripped of the title, but have just agreed not to deploy it.
The deal, which was hammered out at Sandringham yesterday, also gives the couple licence to broker lucrative commercial deals, prompting concern they could row back on their pledge not to use the titles if doing so could bolster their brand and net them millions.
The move also will see Harry drop all of his official military positions and the couple will also spend the majority of their time in North America, a source told ITV.
The shock statement was announced by the Queen – but minutes later the couple sparked confusion when they updated their own website and signed off as ‘Their Royal Highnesses’.
The announcement by Kensington Palace marks the conclusion of talks about their future after days of wrangling with senior members of the family and royal aides to thrash out a deal.
But Harry and Meghan, who sources say intend to spend ‘the majority’ of their time in North America, will pay a heavy financial cost.
As well as returning the £2.4 million spent on a lavish refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, they will pay a commercial rent – estimated at up to £360,000 a year – to retain it as their British home.
Prince Charles will continue to ‘offer private financial support’ and, crucially, the couple will have free rein to negotiate lucrative commercial deals that experts believe could net them hundreds of millions of pounds, although they have pledged ‘to uphold the values of Her Majesty’.
A number of unresolved issues remain, including whether Harry and Meghan will be required to strip the word ‘Royal’ from their SussexRoyal website, and who will pick up the multi-million pound bill for their continuing security requirements.
The Queen, who took control of the crisis that threatened to permanently damage the monarchy, praised Meghan for swiftly becoming a part of the family and thanked the couple for the work they had done, saying she was pleased they had found a constructive way to move forward.
ITV royal editor Chris Ship clarifies that the couple will be keeping their HRH title, but have agreed not to use it
There was bewilderment why Prince Andrew, who was fired from frontline duties in the wake of a car crash Newsnight interview about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, has not had his HRH removed
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer to use their HRH titles and will repay £2.4million of taxpayer’s money spent on renovating their Berkshire home, the couple have announced, as talks about their future roles concluded. Pictured is the Queen’s statement
And a statement from Buckingham Palace (pictured) read: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives’
In her statement, the Queen said: ‘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 recognise 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.’
A statement from Buckingham Palace read: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.
‘As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments.
‘They will no longer receive public funds for royal duties. With the Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.
‘While they can no longer formally represent the Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.
‘The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.
‘Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security.
‘This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020.’
All the new arrangements that are due to come into effect in the spring will be reviewed by Buckingham Palace in 12 months.
There was no immediate reaction from Prince William and Prince Charles to what has been dubbed a ‘hard Megxit’, which follows revelations that the couple were unhappy with life in the royal fishbowl.
The Duke and Duchess’ new website sussexroyal.com has been updated following the Queen’s statement, saying: ‘In line with the statement by Her Majesty The Queen, information on the roles and work of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be updated on this website in due course.’
Their new titles mirror the styling given to Harry’s mother Diana after her divorce when she was no longer allowed to use HRH. She was known as Diana, Princess of Wales.
The change means Harry, who served a decade in the British Army, will give up his military patronages and his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, but will remain a prince and sixth in line to the British throne.
Harry, who has spoken fondly of his time in the Army, will lose several military roles including Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief of the Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command. He will also no longer be a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
The couple will no longer use the titles His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness, but they are not being stripped of them.
Insiders speak of the ‘hundreds of thousands of pounds’ made available to furnish the couple’s Windsor home (pictured, Frogmore Cottage above). The Sussexes will pay back £2.4million of taxpayers’ money spent on renovating the house in Berkshire
Despite the official statements saying they would no longer be funded by the taxpayer, it is understood Harry will still be reliant on the Bank of Dad – with Prince Charles bankrolling him from the Duchy of Cornwall.
He currently receives around £2.3million a year. Other key questions remain.
Harry and Meghan’s security needs will still have to be met – in the announcements they refused to divulge who would pay to keep them safe or how much it would cost.
But estimates have ranged between £1million to £7million. Canada is likely to have to pick up a sizeable chunk of the bill.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office declined to comment on Saturday’s news.
The official statements do leave several key questions unanswered over Harry and Meghan’s future.
The future of the couple’s new website venture is unclear. It is not known whether they will hang on to the ‘Sussex Royal’ name if they are no longer officially part of royal life.
They were quick to update the website last night, but it still described them as ‘Their Royal Highnesses’.
Prince Harry had been forced to delay flying back to Canada to be reunited with Meghan and baby Archie while the negotiations continued.
He has not seen them in almost a fortnight.
The Queen was seen with a steely expression behind the wheel of her Land Rover at Sandringham on Saturday afternoon, as the final touches were put on the Megxit deal.
She had ordered courtiers to hammer out a plan ‘in days, not weeks’ for a stripped-back Royal role for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan and Harry have already begun a transition phase of living in Canada and the UK. The Duchess is in the Commonwealth country with son Archie where the Sussexes spent six weeks over the festive period.
The move was agreed by the Queen, Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge following the Sussexes unprecedented statement released earlier this month saying they wanted to step back as senior royals and become financially independent.
Alistair Bruce, a commentator on the royals, told Sky News: ‘I think the queen has dealt with this crisis because she has absolutely drawn the line: you can be private people, but you cannot be royal at the same time.
‘There’s no halfway house.’
Royal expert Penny Junor said the new arrangement was ‘the best possible outcome and an outcome which will actually avoid catastrophe’.
She said: ‘I think it is the best possible outcome, and an outcome which will actually avoid catastrophe.
‘The country was so divided about this and so angry and so upset, so I think it was all a big mess and it was getting nastier by the day.’
Ms Junor added that it would have been ‘tragic’ if the pair had to give up their patronages, particularly if Harry was made to leave the Invictus Games after founding it.
‘They’re hanging onto their patronages which I think is absolutely terrific because they both care passionately about making the world a better place,’ she said.
She went on to praise the agreement that Harry and Meghan will be stepping back from royal duties and will not receive public funds as a clean break for the pair.
‘There are no blurred lines.
‘They are starting afresh and they are going with the Queen’s blessing, I think it is the best of all worlds,’ the royal commentator added.
The announcement from the palace on Saturday confirmed that the Duke and Duchess (pictured) will continue their private patronages and associations with the Queen’s blessing
Meghan Markle appeared fresh and happy as she drove herself to the airport in Canada on Friday, but was accompanied by a security guard
Prince Harry was pictured in London on Friday after he attended an event at Buckingham Palace. The Queen had recently held a summit meeting with senior members of the royal family
Ms Junor went on to say that the choice to retain, but not use, the HRH title was significant. ‘There is greater prestige to the HRH, it is the title of a working member of the royal family,’ she said.
‘I think holding onto it is very very good because it means that if something was to happen in the future, and who knows what might happen in the future, circumstances might change and they might want to come back.
‘They might want to do royal work again, they might be needed. I think not to burn bridges is a good thing. It does mean that they won’t be able to cash in, one would hope, on their royal status.’
However, the royal expert added it was ‘currently ambiguous’ whether the pair would be able to use the term Sussex Royal, including on their official website Sussexroyal.com.
Although she praised the agreement as positive for both the couple and the royal family, Ms Junor said: ‘The British public have lost out because these are two fantastic people who sprinkle fairy dust wherever they go and we are going to miss that, but clearly it was not making them happy.’
A source said the royal family and the Sussexes ‘were pleased’ to have reached a ‘successful conclusion’ to the talks.
The source said: ‘There has been an acceptance and understanding of what it is the Sussexes want to achieve and a genuine desire to come up with a new way of working to support their wish for a more independent life.
‘The issues involved are complicated, that said the announcement meets Her Majesty and the family’s wish for a speedy resolution, the nature of the issue has necessitated a number of detailed conversations between officials and members of the family.
‘They were all extremely friendly and constructive because the common goal was clear, as was the desire to reach a successful conclusion – everyone was pleased to have got here today.’
Royal accounts published last summer revealed £2.4million of tax-payers’ money was spent on Meghan and Harry’s grade-II listed Frogmore Cottage home near Windsor Castle.
It turned five properties back into a single residence for the couple and their baby son Archie.
The amount spent was heavily criticised at the time by the organisation Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state.
But all fixtures and fittings for the home close to Windsor Castle were paid for privately by the Duke and Duchess.
In a move that reveals the couple may have been trying to avoid a public backlash over the funds spent on the home, they have said they want to repay the amount.
The Queen has said Frogmore will remain their home, and when the couple are in the UK they are likely to stay at the property and will pay a commercial rent on it.
The couple’s statement said they ‘will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties’, one of the requests of the Sussexes who said on their new website they wanted to step away from public money so they could be financially independent.
The Prince had been spotted last night in the capital after spending the evening dining with friends at Brook House Pub in Fulham, west London.
Following a crunch summit between Princes Charles, William and Harry last Monday, the Queen agreed to let the Sussexes step back from official duties and tasked Palace aides with drawing up a blueprint for the couple’s future in double-time.
Harry had been expected to fly back across the Atlantic this weekend after hosting the Rugby League World Cup draw at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
The last time he saw his son was at the $14million Vancouver Island mansion where he and Meghan spent Christmas – and Archie stayed when they returned to the UK say they planned to quit as senior Royals.
As well as splits between the Palace and Sussex households, friends claim that Harry and Meghan are themselves divided over where in Canada to settle down.
The Duke is believed to be happy to continue living on the west coast near Vancouver, while his ex-actress wife is understood to favour Toronto, where she lived during her time filming Suits.
‘Meghan has a lot of connections here. She finds it comfortable and believes it is somewhere they can develop new roles and pursue her interests,’ a source told the Times.
Prince Andrew was also spotted at Sandringham on Saturday, where he was understood do have had lunch with the Queen and Prince Philip.
It recently emerged that Meghan’s team pre-approved text and pictures sent out after her carefully-choreographed charity visit in Vancouver earlier this week.
The Duchess of Sussex visited feminist climate change group Justice For Girls in Vancouver on Tuesday in one of the first times she has been seen since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were quitting as senior royals.
Her visit was publicised on the group’s Twitter account but only after Meghan’s team apparently gave the go-ahead, The Daily Telegraph reports.
On Friday, Meghan took full advantage of her newfound independence from the Crown as she drove herself to a Canadian airport to pick up a pilates expert pal who jetted in from the US for the weekend.
The Duchess of Sussex was spotted in photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com parked outside Victoria International Airport in a Land Rover Discovery on Thursday afternoon.
Queen says she is ‘particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family’ – as she reveals Megxit is result of ‘many months of conversations’
The Queen has expressed how she is ‘particularly proud’ of Meghan as she reveals the couple’s announcement to step down as senior royals is the result of ‘many months of conversations’.
Her Majesty praised how Meghan has swiftly become part of the family and thanked the couple for the work they had done, saying she was pleased they had found a constructive way to move forward.
She expressed her desire for the family to create a ‘happy and peaceful life’ which the couple intend to purse in North America where they can set their own agenda and make money how they choose.
In her statement Her Majesty The Queen praised how Meghan had swiftly become part of the family and thanked the couple for the work they had done
Buckingham Palace announced last night the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer use their HRH titles and will repay £2.4million of taxpayers’ money spent on renovating their Frogmore Cottage home.
The couple, who will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will also stop carrying out royal duties from the spring.
In her statement, the Queen said: ‘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 recognise 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 all for 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.’
It is understood officials are yet to iron out several key issues, including the Sussexes’ security, titles and future finances
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will still get cash from The Bank Of Dad: Prince is expected to keep getting £2.3m Duchy of Cornwall cash from Charles while pair are free to do commercial deals
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to continue received £2.3million-a-year from the Duchy of Cornwall via Prince Charles.
Buckingham Palace’s bombshell announcement last night revealed that the couple will give up their Sovereign Grant money – which equates to about £100,000-a-year.
They will also be repaying the £2.4million Sovereign Grant cash that was used for their Frogmore Cottage revamp.
However, it is believed Prince Charles will continue to fund their lifestyles and the Palace’s statement made no mention of it.
Royal Correspondent Rebecca English said: ‘Harry and Meghan will not receive any further public funding but will continue to receive funds from the Prince of Wales privately.’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to continue received £2.3million-a-year from the Duchy of Cornwall via Prince Charles
According to a former aide, ‘Prince Charles’s attitude is always just pay what needs to be paid and move on.’
‘It’s usually the path of least resistance when it’s to do with the boys.’
But those familiar with some of the eye-watering numbers which have crossed the royal desk at Clarence House say there is another side to the story.
One figure went so far as to say that the money he spends, not just on Harry and Meghan but also on financing William and Kate, was ‘draining him’.
Officially, the brothers and their households are funded out of Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall estate, but, in fact, the Prince has at times had to dip into his own private reserves.
Buckingham Palace’s bombshell announcement last night revealed the couple will give up their Sovereign Grant money – which equates to about £100,000-a-year
At one stage he was paying the Sussexes more than William and his family. That figure is now understood to be around the same, with Harry and William each receiving approximately £2.5million.
However, the Prince has let it be known that his funds are not inexhaustible and that there is a limit to how far and how much he can pay.
Insiders speak of the ‘hundreds of thousands of pounds’ the Prince made available to furnish the couple’s Windsor home after their decision to abandon Kensington Palace.
They will also be repaying the £2.4million Sovereign Grant cash that was used for their Frogmore Cottage revamp
According to a source, the figures involved in providing for both boys have in recent times been flagged up to the Prince by his accounting staff on more than one occasion.
‘There’s usually a raised eyebrow, but the Prince always just signs them off,’ says the source.
All the same, he has made it clear that while he will continue to fund his sons, there can be, as one courtier put it, ‘no blank cheque’.
The couple will now be free to do any commercial deals they like and appear to be continuing their ‘Sussex Royal’ brand, even though they are no long Royal Highnesses.
If Meghan were to go back to acting she could be in for a princely sum of money, as she made £3million from appearing on American TV show Suits.