Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the decision to step down from their senior roles within the British Royal Family after the release of a specific heir photograph by Buckingham Palace, according to claims.
In his unauthorized biography titled "Meghan: A Hollywood Princess," royal author Andrew Morton recounted how the Sussexes were taken by surprise when a photograph featuring Queen Elizabeth II alongside her heirs, King Charles, Prince William, and Prince George, emerged in 2020. The photograph, capturing all four royals smiling, was taken in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.
Morton wrote, "The royal couple suspected that the entire institution was conspiring against them. As they saw it, the evidence was all around them. The unspoken code was straightforward: the future of the monarchy was assured, with or without Meghan and Harry," echoing his words from his unauthorized biography, "Meghan: A Hollywood Princess."
Just two days after the release of this photograph, Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step down as senior members of the Royal Family. In a statement issued on January 8, 2020, they stated, "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution."
They continued, "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment."
The couple added, "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and all relevant parties."
Harry and Meghan subsequently relocated from the UK to the United States, where they currently reside in Montecito, California, with their children, Prince Archie, aged 4, and Princess Lilibet, aged 2.
However, since their departure, a significant divide has emerged, with the Sussexes making a series of sensational claims against the British Royal Family, the most recent being Harry's tell-all memoir, "Spare," which was published in January.
Apart from their royal roles, the couple has ventured into different careers, with Harry's recent focus on the release of his documentary series "Heart of Invictus" on Netflix, a project he also served as an executive producer for.
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