Queen Elizabeth moves to control ‘Megxit’ crisis as Meghan Markle heads to Canada

Courtiers ordered to sort out future role for Prince Harry and wife within days after shock announcement that they would ‘step back’ from duties

Friend says royal couple was made aware over Christmas holidays that they were not to be part of ‘slimmed down monarchy’

Reading Time:3 minutes

Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace in July 2018. Photo: AP

Published: 2:54am, 11 Jan 2020Updated: 8:31pm, 11 Jan 2020

Queen Elizabeth has moved quickly to take control of the crisis surrounding the decision by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, to distance themselves from the royal family, ordering royal courtiers to sort out a future role for the pair within days.

British media reported Friday that the monarch, who is at her Sandringham estate in eastern England, held a conference call with her son Prince Charles and grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry.

The royal family is said to be “hurt’’ by Harry and Meghan’s statement Wednesday that they want to step down from being senior royals, with reports claiming they were not told of the statement beforehand. But the queen, Charles and William have told their teams to work with government and the Sussexes to sort out a solution.

In the meantime, Meghan has returned to Canada, where she and Harry spent the Christmas holidays, instead of with other royals at Sandringham. The former actress is American but has long-standing ties to Canada, having lived in Toronto while filming the television show Suits.

The talks come after the royal pair released a “personal message” on Wednesday evening that said they were stepping back from being senior members of Britain’s royal family, would work to become financially independent and would “balance” their time between the Britain and North America.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x