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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 10 January 2020
Uproar in UK over Harry and Meghan's step back from royals

By DANICA KIRKA followed them on a re-
Britain's royal family scram- cent tour of Southern Af-
bled Thursday to contain rica. Both said they had
the fallout from the surprise struggled with the spotlight,
announcement by Prince particularly because they
Harry and Meghan that say much of what is printed
they plan "to step back" is untrue. The duchess told
from royal duties, a shift ITV last year that her British
that ignited media outrage friends warned her not to
and public unease in the marry the prince because
U.K. of the intense media scru-
The couple's declaration tiny that would follow in his
that they planned to forge country. But the U.S. televi-
a "progressive" new path sion star said she "naively"
for royals in the modern dismissed the warnings, be-
world clearly upset senior cause as an American she
royals — who apparently didn't understand how the
weren't told of the decision British press worked.
in advance. "I never thought this would
Britain's media didn't like be easy, but I thought it
it either, lambasting the would be fair,'' she said.
Duke and Duchess of Sus- "And that is the part that is
sex in articles, columns and hard to reconcile."
editorials Thursday that ex- In this Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019 file photo, Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex The announcement left a
pressed everything from attend the 91st Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in London. slew of questions in its wake,
disappointment to fury. Associated Press including whether the cou-
The Daily Mirror said in an ple should repay taxpayer
editorial that the couple's world in 2018, the 38-year- that Harry and Meghan's they want to cut this finan- funds used on their home,
failure to tell Harry's grand- old Duchess of Sussex was statement had caught the cial tie. Frogmore Cottage in Wind-
mother, Queen Elizabeth American actress Meghan royal household by surprise. The couple also announced sor. Taxpayers paid 2.4 mil-
II, about their plans "shows Markle, star of the TV legal "We understand their de- a new media relations pol- lion pounds to renovate the
shocking disregard for a drama "Suits." The couple's sire to take a different ap- icy "to ensure diverse and Grade-2 listed building.
woman whose entire life first child, Archie, was born proach, but these are open access to their work.'' Simon Webb, 73, of King's
has been ruled by a sense in May 2019. complicated issues that will The policy includes them Lynn in eastern England,
of public duty and honor." The uproar began Wednes- take time to work through,'' opting out of a pool system said the couple should pay
The Times of London ac- day with a statement from it read. that guarantees media the money back if they are
cused Harry of "petulance Buckingham Palace, de- The message about their fu- coverage of royal events stepping back from royal
and hot-headedness," scribed as "a personal mes- ture plans was also posted to Britain's media."Under duties.
while the Daily Mail said the sage from the Duke and on the couple's official Ins- this system, the rota, or "I don't think they can keep
couple wanted "the status Duchess of Sussex." It said tagram page and referred pool, gives these British dipping in and out as it suits
of being 'senior' royals but Harry and Meghan intend readers to their website for media representatives the them, because that's what
the privacy and freedom to become financially inde- information. But the state- opportunity to exclusively they seem to do,'' he said.
of being private citizens." pendent and to "balance" ment and launching of the cover an event, on the un- The royal family will also be
The Sun and the New York their time between the U.K. website was apparently derstanding that they will watching to see how the
Post described the depar- and North America. not cleared with senior roy- share factual material ob- public reacts to the news.
ture as "Megxit," a play on "After many months of re- als or their advisers. tained with other members Many royal watchers on
Brexit, Britain's impending flection and internal discus- It was not known exactly of their sector who request Thursday offered sympathy
departure this month from sions, we have chosen to where in North America the it,'' the website said. "The for the queen.
the European Union. The make a transition this year couple planned to spend current system predates "We don't mind them hav-
New York Post, a Rupert in starting to carve out a some of their time. Meghan the dramatic transforma- ing an ordinary life. What
Murdoch paper, featured progressive new role within grew up in Los Angeles and tion of news reporting in the we don't like is the queen
a cover cartoon drawing this institution," the state- lived in Toronto while film- digital age.'' not being informed about
of the couple's alleged fu- ment said. "We intend to ing "Suits." As an actress and a human nothing," said royal fan
ture: the duchess in curlers step back as 'senior' mem- Harry and his family rights activist, the duchess John Loughrey, adding
holding a cigarette while bers of the royal family and skipped the queen's tradi- was accustomed to media that the British public did
Harry in a stained T-shirt work to become financially tional Christmas gathering attention before her mar- not want to see the royal
cradled a beer in front of a independent, while con- at her Sandringham estate riage, but she has made no couple "isolated" abroad.
television. tinuing to fully support her last month to spend the secret of the fact that the "It is a crisis,'' he said. "We
Harry, 35, is Elizabeth's majesty the queen." holidays on Vancouver Is- transition to being a global have got a crisis here.
grandson and sixth in line Hours after Harry and land off the west coast of celebrity and part of Brit- Seriously."q
to the British throne, behind Meghan's announcement, Canada and see Markle's ain's royal family was diffi-
his father, brother and his though, a difference of mother Doria, who lives in cult. The royal couple par-
brother's three children. opinion was laid bare. California. ticularly took issue with their
With his ginger hair and Buckingham Palace issued The royal pair described treatment at the hands of
beard, he is one of the royal a second statement, say- their new roles on their new the British tabloids, whose
family's most recognizable ing many issues still had to website. The site noted that aggressive coverage of all
and popular members and be worked out before the the Sovereign Grant, which things royal is legendary.
has spent his entire life in couple's plan could be re- funds the monarchy, cov- The royal couple revealed
the public eye. alized and discussions with ers just 5% of the costs for their struggles with the
Before marrying the the couple "were at an ear- the duke and duchess and media during an ITV docu-
prince in a royal wed- ly stage." is used for their official of- mentary "Harry & Meghan:
ding watched around the That communique hinted fice expenses. They said An African Journey," which