The whole of London was
shocked awake with a shocking announcement from Prince Harry and Meghan: they
want to step back from royal duties. However, according to the front pages of
newspapers in the United Kingdom on Thursday, the royal couple is still very
much of great interest to the public.
Financial Independence is
Key, Couple Says
The couple, on Wednesday,
stated that they would pass on their senior roles in the British royal family
as they aim to become independent financially. They are also looking to create
what they stated as a “progressive new role within this institution” as posted
on one of the largest social media platforms in the world, Instagram.
Announcement Dominates Media
in the UK
The shock announcement
garnered blanket coverage as the press splashed this remarkable story on front
pages. Although it is incredibly rare for just one story to take up the entire
frontpage headlines across the media, the royal couple’s declaration broke the jinx.
What makes it even more
remarkable is that the news came during a week that is loaded with a lot of
international intrigues, the latest of which is the crash of a Ukrainian plane
that killed the entire 176 passengers and crew on Wednesday in Tehran.
How They Plan to Support
Themselves
Among the several questions
that are being asked is how the royal couple plan to
support themselves. But it appears the Prince and the Duchess
have everything planned out as they published a comprehensive document that
outlines the funding as well as the structure of their entire household.
This highly unexpected move
still gives them the power and ability to maintain their philanthropic
endeavors and establish new ones while they strive to earn a professional,
respectable income. They are presently forbidden to do so, according to royal
traditions.
This new role, according to
the site, will enable both Harry and Meghan to go on fulfilling their
respective duties for Her Majesty’s The Queen. However, the couple will still
have future financial autonomy to work on the side.
But to cut that tie will take
a lot of time to transition as other senior members of the royal family are
brought up to speed with the recent happenings in the British Palace.
The Plan
The plan, according to the long-drawn-out statement,
involves non-acceptance of funding from the Sovereign Grant, and to readily
achieve financial independence.
The Sovereign Grant supports
the official business of the monarch. It covers the running expenses of the
official household of Her Majesty as well as for meeting the costs of central
staff.
The Sovereign Grant also
covers the cost of travel to undertake royal assignments or engagements as well
as the maintenance of the royal palaces.
In exchange for this
remarkable support, however, Her Majesty equally surrenders a collection of UK
farms and properties – which generate hundreds of millions of pounds annually –
from the Crown Estate to the government.
The Sovereign Grant covers
approximately 5 percent of the Sussexes’ costs and is also used to take care of
their regular office expense.
