LONDON - Britain's Prince Harry and his wife, American actress Meghan Markle, made a surprise announcement on Wednesday evening: that they would "step back" from their roles as senior members of the royal family and work to become "financially independent," in the United Kingdom and North America.
Such a move abroad, away from the structures of Buckingham Palace and its many duties, would be bold and remarkable, signaling that two of the younger, more popular royals may be fed up with an anachronistic, cosseted life of endless ribbon-cutting and fusty, scripted engagements - and the scrutiny that comes with all of that.
They have filed lawsuits and given TV interviews claiming violations of their privacy. Harry has said he is haunted by memories of his own mother, Princess Diana, being hounded to her death by paparazzi.
In a post on their Instagram account, Harry and Meghan, known formally as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said they made the decision to distance themselves from palace life "after many months of reflection and internal discussions."
Picture: Official Twitter account of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
