Did Meghan Markle’s pregnancy speed up the Megxit bombshell? Or was it Prince Harry’s grandfather Prince Philip’s illness? Inside the Sussexes’ final split with Queen Elizabeth and Buckingham Palace

Feb 25 , 2021

Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex look on before departing from Fua’amotu International Airport in Tonga October 26, 2018. Photo: Reuters

The year-long Sandringham Summit ‘Megxit agreement’ wasn’t up for review until April – but Harry and Meghan jumped the gun with a sudden departure announcement

Since moving to California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made deals with Netflix and Spotify, and will appear in an Oprah Winfrey CBN special next month

It’s official: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan of Sussex are not returning to the United Kingdom to resume their senior royal roles after a year-end review of their departure agreement.

Harry and Meghan will surrender their royal patronages and military appointments under the new terms of the Sandringham Summit agreement that governed their departure in March 2020, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Friday (February 19).

Britain’s Prince Harry poses with Meghan Markle during a photocall after announcing their engagement in the Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace in London, in November 2017. Photo: EPA-EFE

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to her majesty the queen that they will not be returning as working members of the royal family,” the statement said.

“Following conversations with the duke, the queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the royal family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and royal patronages held by the duke and duchess will therefore be returned to her majesty, before being redistributed among working members of the royal family.”

Britain’s Charles, the Prince of Wales; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Queen Elizabeth, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex; Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the RAF100 parade celebrations in London in July 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE

When Harry and Meghan stepped away from full-time royal life in early 2020, it was agreed the situation would be reviewed after a year.

The announcement means Harry and Meghan, residents of California for nearly a year, will give up their honorary appointments to the queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Harry will lose his honorary appointments to the Royal Marines, the RAF base Honington and the Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving.

Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, attend the 91st Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in London. Photo: AP