Don't expect a royal return for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The U.K.'s Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Queen Elizabeth II "that they will not be returning as working members of the Royal Family," Buckingham Palace said Friday.
"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," Buckingham Palace's statement said, adding that "while all are saddened by their decision, the Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a shock announcement last year, Harry and Meghan said they'd be stepping back "as 'senior' members" of the British royal family, looking to "become financially independent" and "balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America." They later moved to Santa Barbara County, California, with their son, Archie.
The duke and duchess will now be returning their honorary military appointments and Royal patronages, which will be "redistributed among working members of the Royal Family," Buckingham Palace said. A spokesperson for the couple said they'll "remain committed to their duty and service to the U.K. and around the world," noting that "we can all live a life of service."
Harry and Meghan, who recently announced they're expecting their second child together, are set to speak out during a highly-anticipated, prime-time interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 7 — and according to CBS' Gayle King, "nothing is off-limits."
-
China and Taiwan's war of words ahead of anniversary paradeUnder The Radar Neighbours both claim to have led the fighting during World War Two
-
Epstein files: Maxwell courts a pardonFeature A new prison transcript shows Ghislaine Maxwell praising Trump as 'a gentleman' while denying his involvement in the Epstein scandal
-
Pentagon readies military deployment in ChicagoFeature The Pentagon is preparing to deploy thousands of Illinois National Guard members to Chicago after Trump threatened to send troops into other major cities
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposesspeed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
