Queen boots Prince Harry and Meghan out of Buckingham Palace and tells them to stop calling themselves royal
HARRY and Meghan have been booted out of Buckingham Palace as the Queen plays hardball over their Megxit demands.
The couple will have to shut their palace office from April 1 and are banned from using their royal titles to tout for business.
They will be hit hard by the shut-out, which could kill off their Sussex Royal brand, experts say.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier said: “The Queen has stood firm.”
Harry must ditch his honorary military positions for at least 12 months after his gran slammed the door on their Megxit demands.
The shut-out, following complex negotiations, frees them to chase the corporate megabucks — but not at the expense of damaging the Royal Family’s reputation.
Royal watchers have described it as a body blow for the couple, who were hoping to cash in on their royal links in their quest for a financially independent life in North America.
'CUT ADRIFT'
Former royal protection officer Ken Wharfe said: “They have been cut adrift. Where is their future now? I think it’ll be difficult for them to find a way back in the Royal Family.”
Details of the couple’s Megxit agreement emerged yesterday as the pair prepare to step down from royal duties at the end of next month.
Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, have been ordered to close their office at Buckingham Palace from April 1.
They have been allowed to keep their HRH titles but have been forced to accept that they will not use them publicly as they tout for business around the globe.
The couple are also likely to have to remove the lucrative “royal” from their long-cherished Sussex Royal branding — despite spending tens of thousands on a new Sussex Royal website to complement their Instagram feed, which has more than 11.2million followers.
They have already tried to trademark Sussex Royal, which they want to use to flog countless trinkets from bandanas to notebooks.
It is also likely to mean rebranding their charitable organisation called Sussex Royal, The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Talks were said to be continuing on the use of the word “royal” but the Queen and officials have reportedly told them it would be untenable.
The Sussexes have already agreed to repay the £2.4million of taxpayers’ money used to refurbish their Frogmore Cottage home in Windsor and are expected to pay a commercial rent for it of about £30,000 a month.
Last night, Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty magazine, said: “It seems as though they are retaining a lot of things but not actually being able to use them — like the HRH title and Harry's military position.
'DISAPPOINTED'
"They are obviously not going to be able to use the word ‘royal’ on their website. They obviously are royal but can’t call themselves that. They have those things but their hands are very tied. It’s almost like the man who wasn’t there.”
Mr Wharfe, a former bodyguard for Princess Diana, said Harry and Meghan would be hugely disappointed with the outcome.
He said: “They’d want to keep that Sussex Royal brand name — they haven’t. Without that brand it’s going to be much more difficult for their charitable causes because that was their trademark.
“I think they’d want to keep the office at Buckingham Palace as well, which they now don’t have. Harry would also have wanted to have kept using the HRH title but he can’t. He will be incredibly disappointed with that.”
Royal commentator Phil Dampier said the Queen had stood firm during the negotiations.
He added: “Harry and Meghan have got what they wanted in the fact that they now have the freedom to make as much money as they like — but at what cost in this settlement?
“I don’t think Harry would have expected it to cost them so much. The Queen has not allowed a situation where they have the best of both worlds. If they are out, then that is it. No office, no titles and they cannot even use the word ‘royal’.
“It will be interesting to see the public reaction to them at the events they have upcoming. It will be interesting to see if they get a warm welcome or any mixed reaction, even hostility.”
Royal expert Dickie Arbiter added: “The Queen is always going to stick to her guns and make it very clear — if you’re turning your back on being a full-time royal then there are conditions under which you can do it. Her Majesty has stuck to her guns.”
'HOSTILITY'
The Sussexes are expected to be in Britain regularly over the next few months with Harry at an Invictus Games event with rock star Jon Bon Jovi on February 28.
They will attend the Endeavour Fund awards on March 5 and the Duke will be at Silverstone with F1 racing driver Lewis Hamilton the following day.
The pair will be at the Mountbatten Festival of Music on March 7 and Meghan will mark International Women’s Day the next day.
The couple will also join the Queen and the Royal Family for the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9.
A spokeswoman for the Sussexes said the couple would announce details of their new non-profit organisation later in the year.
most read in news
The spokeswoman said Harry’s priorities remained supporting the welfare of servicemen and women, conservation, sport for social development,
HIV and Travalyst which works to mobilise the tourism and travel industry for social good.
Meghan would continue to focus on women’s empowerment, gender equality and education, she added.
Her Maj on duty
THE Queen was saluted yesterday for soldiering on with her duties despite the crises engulfing the Royal Family.
The 93-year-old chatted to patients and doctors as she opened a £100million hospital unit in central London.
Chief nurse Flo Panel-Coates said: “She’s a consummate professional, isn’t she? She does her duty.”