Is this great news? It might be great news!
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are officially known, announced on their Instagram account that they “intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent.” In addition to cutting back, permanently, their royal duties, the couple also plans to split their time geographically between the United Kingdom and North America.
For royal watchers or even just the casually interested, this is massive news. The British monarchy has been run with an iron fist by Queen Elizabeth and to see anyone break with royal protocol is a bold, progressive move.
No two royals have quite captured the public interest like Harry and Meghan, their romance often treated as a modern-day fairy tale. The move, while surprising, shouldn’t come as a total shock, considering the two already took a breather from royal duties after their son Archie was born. Plus, Meghan has been open about the toll the limelight and abhorrent treatment from the British tabloids has taken on her. And, with their being very little chance that Harry could actually inherent the throne, their roles are purely ceremonial. It may be sentimental, but I like to think Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, would also be pretty proud.
Still, there are a lot of questions left unanswered, like what exactly are Harry and Meghan going to do? And can anyone really just retire from the royal family? Plus, how are they going to make money.
Let’s turn to Twitter for the best jokes, reactions and advice.
Harry and Meghan are resigning from their family to spend more time with their jobs
— Danielle Alberti (@DanielleAlberti) January 8, 2020
2016: Brexit
2020: Sussexit— Carl Franzen (@carlfranzen) January 8, 2020
Hey guys we're Meghan and Harry and together we're making the world a better place. Through our Patreon we'll offer you an exclusive behind the scenes look at our lives as normies
— Sarah Hagi (@geekylonglegs) January 8, 2020
UK tabloids: You have to deal with our racist nonsense.
Meghan Markle: Actually, I really don’t.
— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) January 8, 2020
meghan markle in 2027 when she wins an emmy for playing herself in the crown season 8 episode about today pic.twitter.com/3WbpqUOwDx
— matt (@RealMattGannon) January 8, 2020
They're joining The Athletic https://t.co/CpMpZgAKs3
— RMJ=H (@rmj_equals_hero) January 8, 2020
omg meghan and harry leaving the royal family after months of intense racism, scrutiny and discrimination who would have guessed pic.twitter.com/fjOLV9IMVG
— boss⁷ 🔪 (@btsexpIicit) January 8, 2020
hey Harry and Meghan, if you're looking for something to do stateside, we have it on good authority that Nets games are a fun hang for the British royal family pic.twitter.com/ibfRc3wYjK
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 8, 2020
NEW NEIGHBOR: Meghan who?
MEGHAN [after a long look into the distance]: Meghan Skywalker— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) January 8, 2020
I love the royal family but it is, without question, a historically imperialist institution and apparently Meghan and Harry are taking it down, but from the inside.