Britain's Prince Harry, Meghan to step back as 'senior' royals
LONDON, United Kingdom — Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will step back as senior members of the royal family and spend more time in North America, the couple said in a shock announcement on Wednesday.
The surprise news follows a turbulent year for the monarchy, with signs that the couple have increasingly struggled with the pressures of royal life and family rifts.
"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing
"After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have
"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America."
What
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent Christmas in Canada after speaking of the pressure of being in the spotlight following their fairytale wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018 and son Archie's birth in May.
They had previously announced they would miss Christmas with Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family, choosing to spend it instead with the duchess' mother, Doria Ragland.
Harry, who is sixth in line to the throne, said in October that he and his brother Prince William were on "different paths" and admitted tension in their relationship.
"We don't see each other as much as we used to because we are so busy but I love him dearly," he said in an ITV television interview.
Media war
Meghan also admitted that it had been a "struggle" becoming a mother while living under an intense media spotlight.
There are rumours of a feud with William's wife Kate, and she
"The British tabloids will destroy your life," she said they told her.
Asked in the ITV interview if she was "not
The couple recently launched legal action against British tabloid The Mail on Sunday for
Harry is also suing two newspaper groups over alleged voice mail interception, or phone hacking.
Asked if Meghan was facing the same media pressures as Diana, Harry replied:
"
The royals had hoped to turn over a new page in 2020 following a year of trials and tribulations that Queen Elizabeth called "
Last year began with the monarch's husband Prince Philip overturning his Land Rover after crashing it into an oncoming car.
It ended with the 98-year-old walking gingerly out of a London hospital after four nights of treatment for what Buckingham Palace described as a "pre-existing condition".
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew
He denies the allegations.
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