Queen Elizabeth Reluctantly Accepts Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Independence? Controversy Continues Despite Official Statement

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has announced that she will respect the decision of Prince Harry and his wife, who declared their independence from the royal family.

On the 13th (local time), according to the British daily The Guardian, Queen Elizabeth held an emergency meeting at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, northwest England, attended by Prince Harry, Harry's father Prince Charles, Prince William, and government officials. The meeting discussed Prince Harry's future issues. In particular, the retention of the Duke of Sussex title, the disposal of Harry's assets worth 15 million pounds (approximately 22.5 billion KRW), and new positions and roles were reportedly discussed. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, currently staying in Canada, is said to have participated in the meeting via video call.

After about 90 minutes of discussion, the Queen stated in a press release, "The meeting was very constructive," and "My family and I fully understand Harry and Meghan's wish to create a new life as a young family."

She continued, "We want them to always be part of the 'royal family,' but we respect their hope to live a more independent life while still remaining a valuable part of the family."

Typically, official royal statements are very strict about protocol, but on this occasion, the Queen referred to them as her grandson and Harry and Meghan rather than by their official titles, Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Queen Elizabeth also addressed the couple's financial independence in the statement. She said, "Harry and Meghan made it clear that they do not want to rely on public funds to live their new life," and added, "There was agreement that there will be a transitional period regarding the time they spend in the UK and Canada."

Although Prince Harry and his wife declared financial independence, this accounts for only 5% of the government budget, so it appears that assets inherited from the royal family and support as members of the royal family will be maintained.

The Queen added, "There are still complex issues that our family needs to resolve, and work to be done," urging that a final decision be made as soon as possible.

British media offered various interpretations of the Queen's statement. Some reports suggested that the Queen wanted Prince Harry and his wife to remain members of the royal family but ultimately reluctantly accepted their decision. Other media reported that the couple's independence was due to conflicts with Prince William and his wife. In response to the controversy, Prince William and Prince Harry issued a joint statement before the meeting, saying, "False stories about our relationship have been published in the newspapers," and "Using such language is insulting."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.