What Queen’s statement about Harry & Meghan really means – and the hint that couple may lose royal titles
HARRY and Meghan’s decision to step down as senior members of the royal family has upset millions around the world – but none quite so much as the Queen.
The monarch has taken an unusual step away from tradition to release one of her most personal statements to date following her grandson’s bombshell news. And, according to psychologist Jo Hemmings, her words reveal the “genuine sadness” and hurt she’s feeling.
While there are clues in the statement that she plans to strip the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their royal titles, she also hints that she doesn’t believe their transition to living between both Canada and the UK will be a permanent one.
Jo says the “poignant message” reveals much of the Queen’s regret at her grandson’s decision, but there are also hidden clues that baby Archie was central in his parents’ minds when making such a drastic choice.
Meanwhile, royal commentator Victoria Arbiter agreed the Queen referring to Harry and Meghan by their first names could be a sign the couple will lose their royal titles.
She tweeted: "I do think it was very striking, particularly in a statement from the Queen
"Are they having to give up their titles? This would be an indication they are."
Royal author Penny Junor said: "I think it's a positive statement. It sounds friendly and warm, the way the Queen talks about family so much.
"It read to me like a grandmother talking about the family.
"I think it will take the pressure off them. I think they're in a very vulnerable state at the moment. I think they're unhappy, they feel isolated and unloved, unappreciated and they needed careful handling."
Royal historian Robert Lacey told BBC Radio 4: "It is remarkably hands-on. I mean it may have been processed through officials but this is the Queen, speaking to her people and speaking about her family, and I think coming right through it is the concern she feels."
While experts agree the message is one of love and support from a devoted grandmother, many believe it offers more questions than answers.
Here Jo decodes the Queen’s entire moving statement:
A grandmother reaching out to her grandson
The Queen began her statement with the line: "Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family."
Jo says: “Referring in the first sentence to Harry as her grandson, reveals a personal touch – this is a grandmother reaching out to a much loved grandson.
Hurt and sadness definitely underlines much of what she’s said – and all those references to family, give the impression that this was done with a heavy heart.
In spite of it being presented as a formal statement, emanating from discussions with the wider family, it is very much a personal and rather regretful and poignant message from The Queen herself.
No direct, named reference to the other key players in the discussion – Prince, Charles, the Duke of Edinburgh or Prince William.”
THE NEXT STEPS: What today's summit means for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's future
The Queen tonight made it clear she wanted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to remain 'full-time members' of the Royal Family.
However, the couple stuck to their guns during the crunch talks at Sandringham - insisting they wanted to live a more "independent life".
This means they will spend time in Canada and the UK as they raise their son Archie.
During the summit at the Norfolk estate, they also insisted they would become financially independent - no longer relying on the public purse.
And while Her Majesty's statement hinted at her sadness that Meghan and Harry would be moving on, the Royal Family can now work on the finer details over just what the couple's new life will look like.
Royal aides are now expected to thrash out the finer details of just how the couple will create a "new life as a young family" together.
These discussions are likely to include whether the couple continue to use their HRH titles, and how they will keep their royal duties separate from their private work.
Other details to be discussed are expected to be how their security will be handled, and what, if anything, will happen to their patronages.
The 93-year-old monarch made it clear she wanted to see the "complex matters" to be reached as soon as possible.
A further announcement as to the couple's future is expected to be revealed "in the coming days".
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Stepping away from tradition
In a very significant and unusual move away from tradition, the Queen chose to refer to Harry and Meghan by their first names in her statement, which many experts believe is a major clue she plans to strip them of their royal titles in the future.
She said: "My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family."
Jo says: “The Queen refers to ‘Harry and Meghan’ by their first names, twice during this brief statement, only once referring to them as ‘the Sussexes’. This would suggest that she may be considering changing their royal titles in due course.”
The use of first names is very unusual for the Queen, who usually chooses to use formal titles for all members of her family when speaking publicly.
Jo believes the choice to step away from tradition here could hint at her not supporting their decision as a Queen, but standing by them as a grandmother nonetheless.
Jo says: “It is very unusual to see the use of their first names in a statement like this. I imagine that they are not entirely supportive at all, but can empathise with it on a family, if not a personal level.”
‘Genuine sadness’
Perhaps the most personal line in the statement suggests true sadness from the Queen, as she said: “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.”
Jo says: “This reveals some genuine sadness from The Queen. No suggestion that they could have stayed as part of a ‘slimmed down’ Royal Family, she wanted them to stay full-time within ‘The Firm’.
“She kindly and clearly wants to make them feel as much a part of her family, whatever role they have chosen for themselves.”
Meanwhile, by saying she “respects and understands their wish to live a more independent life as a family”, the Queen appears to hint that she understands they’ve done this for their son Archie.
Jo says: “It’s notable than her respecting/understanding their needs as a family – rather than as a couple – maybe a direct reference to her being more empathetic as to their decision being more about bringing Archie up, rather than anything they may have decided would benefit them as a couple.”
Self-funded royals?
Following days of speculation over how Harry and Meghan plan to fund themselves when they step away from the public purse, the Queen left the debate largely unanswered in the statement.
The statement read: “Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.”
The supportive words appear to defend Harry and Meghan against speculation about how they’ll fund themselves.
Jo says: “I think that is a very supportive statement. Standing on its own, it seems that The Queen is putting paid to all the speculation about how they will continue to be funded.”
According to The Times, this line in particular appears to hint that Harry and Meghan will ditch the sovereign grant completely, the taxpayer money that supports the Queen’s official duties.
However, it doesn’t answer the question of whether they’ll still receive funds from Prince Charles’ Duchy of Cornwall. Nor whether they’ll still have their security paid for by the public purse.
Will they change their minds?
Perhaps one of the most shocking parts of Harry and Meghan’s announcement was when they confirmed their plan to split their lives between Canada and the UK.
And the Queen took a firm stand on the matter, appearing to hint she hopes they will change their minds in the future.
Her statement read: “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.”
Jo says: “This unequivocally firm sentence, suggests that she is not willing to let them leave in haste and that she feels that this ‘transition’ may not necessarily be a permanent one.
“It feels as if she is leaving the door open for them to return. There is touch of melancholy about this statement.”
Enough is enough
It’s fair to say Harry and Meghan’s decision has been front and centre of the headlines this week, but the Queen’s final words, describing the matters as “complex”, show how keen she is for the nightmare to be over.
She said: “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.”
After shutting down speculation around Harry and Meghan’s funding, Jo believes this is the Queen’s final plea for the rumours to end for good.
Jo says: “The use of the word ‘complex’ and ‘decisions’ in the plural, indicates that she is keen to get this whole thing wrapped up, without any further ambiguity or speculation, just as soon as possible.”
"Heartbroken" Harry, 35, was locked in gruelling two and a half hour crunch talks at the Norfolk estate with the Queen, Prince William and dad Charles this afternoon.
The Prince of Wales, 71, was the first to be pictured leaving the Norfolk estate just after 4.30pm. His sons William and Harry then left in separate cars.
Prince Harry had arrived in a Range Rover just after 11am, while William - who has been staying at the nearby Anmer Hall - arrived at 1.45pm just before the talks started at 2pm.