The Queen expresses regret over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decision as she agrees to 'period of transition'

Katy Clifton14 January 2020

The Queen has said she would have preferred the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to remain full-time royals as she agreed to a "period of transition" over their future roles.

Expressing her regret at their decision to quit as senior royals , the Queen said "we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the royal family".

However, she said the royal family "respects and understands their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family."

In the statement, issued by Buckingham Palace, the Queen said it has been agreed that “there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK”.

She stressed the discussions were “complex matters” for her family to resolve but she wanted “final decisions” in the “coming days”.

AP

The statement said: “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.

"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.

“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

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“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.

“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.”

A statement by Queen Elizabeth II
PA

It is unusual for the Queen to issue a statement in her own name – when not paying condolences after the death of a foreign head of state or sympathising following a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

And the formal titles of the couple – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – were not used by the monarch.

It comes after the Queen held crisis talks with senior royals and Prince Harry in a bid to find a solution to the couple's future roles.

The head of state was joined at her private Norfolk estate of Sandringham by the Prince Charles and Prince William for the crunch meeting.

It was the first time the four have met since the issue engulfed the royal family after the Duke and Duchess made the announcement on their Instagram page last week.

Meghan is with their baby son Archie in Canada, but a royal source said it is likely she would have joined the crisis talks by phone.

The duchess flew to Canada a few days ago where the family spent an extended festive break in the province of British Columbia .

On Thursday, the Queen, Charles and William gave orders for their households to work with the Sussexes’ team to quickly find a “workable solution” to their desire to change the direction of their royal lives, but still support the Queen.

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