UPDATE: Buckingham Palace, which represents the Queen, has released a statement in response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s earlier announcement that they will be stepping back from their roles. “Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at early stage,” the statement reads. “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

Huge news from the British royal family: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are taking a step back from their roles as “senior members” of the royal family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the announcement on their official Instagram account today, writing, “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.” The pair, who just returned from vacationing in Canada, added that they plan to work to become “financially independent” while balancing their time between the U.K. and North America.

According to the statement, they will “continue to honour” and support the Queen and their patronages.

The decision, of course, was made with baby Archie in mind. The Sussexes added that this will enable them to raise him with “appreciation for the royal tradition” while giving them space to “focus on the next chapter.” What this means for their future and how they will function within the family remains to be seen.

Meghan and Harry also plan to launch a new charitable effort, which they will be sharing more information about at a later date.

“Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support,” the statement finishes.

Read their full post below.

View this post on Instagram

“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. 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. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour 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. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.” – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex For more information, please visit sussexroyal.com (link in bio) Image © PA

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on

Read more:
A Breakdown of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Lawsuit Against Associated Newspapers
Meghan Markle Wore a Tonal Look for the First Royal Event of the Year
Every Outfit Meghan Markle Has Worn in 2020