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There has been a mixed response around the globe to news of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan’s departure from Britain’s monarchy.
They will no longer use their “Royal Highness” titles, Buckingham Palace said Sunday in an announcement.
Harry, 35, will remain a prince and the couple will keep their titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they begin a new life split between North America and Britain.
Meghan Markle, 38, is currently in Canada with baby Archie and Harry is expected to join her soon.
The queen and senior family members met last week to discuss the situation and have been in discussions with officials on how this stepping back would work in practice for the couple.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have left royal duties behind. Source: AAP (file pic)
The news has received a divisive response with some applauding the couple’s move and others questioning the motives behind it.
Liberal Democrats party candidate Liz Jarvis tweeted Harry “deserves every bit of happiness he can get”.
“I really hope he and Meghan can be allowed to live their lives free of racism, scrutiny and vitriol,” she tweeted.
Discounted mugs are seen in a store following news of the couple’s departure from royal life. Source: Getty Images
Scottish comedian Janey Godley said she was “impressed” the couple had decided to leave their royal duties behind.
Author Matt Haig called Harry and Meghan “role models” for anyone who wants to “live their own way, regardless of expectations because of marriage or family or whatever”.
“Many people who need to ignore haters will thank them and feel stronger,” he tweeted.
“Health comes first. I wish them vast happiness for the future.”
Harry and Meghan are role models for all who want to live their own way, regardless of expectations because of marriage or family or whatever. Many people who need to ignore haters will thank them and feel stronger. Health comes first. I wish them vast happiness for the future.
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) January 18, 2020
Bruce Campbell, who starred in The Evil Dead film series, jokingly tweeted while Meghan and her husband dropped their royal titles he dropped his “a long time ago”.
“It works out fine in the end,” Campbell joked.
Comedian Katy Brand lamented that the couple were “relentlessly covered with a toxic shower of s*** by the press”.
“It’s sad but who wouldn’t want to f*** off? Good luck,” she tweeted.
Others, however, were less than impressed with the couple shirking their royal roles.
UK TV show host Piers Morgan was highly critical of the pair’s decision.
“Only surprised it took her so long to get Harry to ditch his family, the Monarchy, the military and his country. What a piece of work,” he tweeted.
Fox News US journalist Harris Faulkner tweeted she found the move “particularly sad” and one Harry “might regret”.
“All over a beautiful woman to whom he’s been married for one year and eight months. What exactly has Meghan given up?” Faulkner tweeted.
Executive editor and columnist at British tabloid The Sun, Dan Wootton tweeted Meghan “is delighted with the result”.
“She’s got exactly what she wants: the ability to make millions and millions without royal oversight, to spend as much time as she wants in Hollywood and to avoid any duty in the UK. Their plan is go,” he tweeted.
Former member of boy band Westlife Brian McFadden joked “if this keeps going” former English rugby player Mike Tindall “could be king”.
“Can’t wait for the karaoke Wednesday’s in the palace,” the singer tweeted.
Tindall is married to Zara Phillips – the eldest granddaughter of the Queen and Prince Philip.
The decision to leave has led to mixed reactions. Source: Getty Images (file pic)
How the press reacted to Harry and Meghan leaving
The couple’s departure made headlines on newspapers not just in the UK but around the world.
Sunday Mail, the Daily Mail’s UK edition, ran the story on its front page with the headline: “Hop It”.
“Queen’s Megxit Bombshell,” the subheading reads.
The Herald on Sunday didn’t give the story the entire front page but ran it at the top with two headings.
“Kiss it all goodbye,” one of the headlines reads alongside a photo of the couple kissing at their wedding.
The other which reads, “Curse of the House of Windsor”, delves into how “heartbreak” has “plagued the royal family”.
Papers in the UK covered news of Harry and Meghan’s decision. Source: The Mirror and The Herald
The Observer also didn’t give the story the entire front page instead running a story on Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brexit.
The New York Post devoted its entire front page to the news.
“Great British break off,” the headline reads. It also devoted a two-page spread to the story.
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