Amanda Holden praises Harry and Meghan’s ‘brilliant’ decision to step back as senior royals

Holden even suggested that Prince Harry's mother Princess Diana "would have done the same"
The Weekender

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TV and radio presenter Amanda Holden has shared her support for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the couple’s shock announcement that they will step back as senior royals.

In a statement shared on their official Instagram account on Wednesday (January 8), the couple said that they intend to “carve out a progressive new role” within the Royal Family and will “work to become financially independent” while “continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen.”

They plan to split their time between the United Kingdom and North America in order to raise their son Archie “with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing [their] family with the space to focus on the next chapter.”

A statement from Buckingham Palace said that discussion with the Duke and Duchess are “at an early stage, adding: “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

Speaking on the Heart Breakfast show with co-host Jamie Theakston, Holden said that she didn’t “really understand what all the fuss is about” regarding the couple’s statement and said that they will still “represent us brilliantly abroad.”

“I mean I really like them, I hate the fact that they get all this kind of stuff in the press,” she said.

“I think, I suspect that she maybe wants another baby and I’m thinking she doesn’t want to go through another year of everyone kind of slagging her off, so yeah I’m all for it. I want them to stay together, I want them to be happy.”

Amanda Holden - In pictures

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She went on to suggest that Prince Harry’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales “would have done the same kind of thing,” adding: “She would have maybe found someone to love her properly, moved out of this country and represented us brilliantly across the globe.”

The presenter is just one of a series of famous names to share their thoughts on the Sussexes’ decision.

Holden’s former Britain’s Got Talent co-star Piers Morgan took a less sympathetic approach in a series of tweets shared shortly after the couple’s announcement.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, who has previously criticised the Duchess of Sussex on the ITV show and in his columns, claimed that Meghan has “split [Harry] from the Royal Family.”

“People say I'm too critical of Meghan Markle,” he wrote in a tweet.

“But she ditched her family, ditched her Dad, ditched most of her old friends, split Harry from William & has now split him from the Royal Family.”

Morgan went on to label the couple “shameless spoiled brats” in a string of critical tweets.

"Harry and Meghan have just published their new rulebook for the media to obey," he wrote. "Even Putin wouldn't try to pull a stunt like this.”

Meanwhile The Good Place star Jameela Jamil wrote “And that folks, is what power looks like” in response to a news article detailing the move.

Heart Breakfast with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston is on weekdays from 6.30am to 10am.

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