The final split: Prince Harry to lose all honorary titles, Buckingham Palace confirms couple won't return to royal duties

LONDON: A year since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - announced their "step back" from royal duties, Buckingham Palace on Friday confirmed in a statement that the couple won't return to their royal roles as working members of British royal family.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family," a Buckingham Palace statement said.

"While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family."

The Palace also confirmed that Harry will lose all honorary titles. For the moment, the honorary military appointments and the royal patronages held by Harry and Meghan will be returned to Queen Elizabeth. They will be later redistributed among working members of The Royal Family, it went on to say.

British media reported that the decision was made after conversations between the Duke of Sussex and members of the Royal Family.

The statement put out by the Palace also added that "the Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service."


Earlier this week, Harry and Markle announced that they were going to turn parents for the second time. The 39-year-old American actress and her husband issued a statement with a black-and-white picture of themselves relaxing under a tree. The statement issued by the couple read that "Archie is going to be a big brother."

The statement came with a new photo of the couple which was taken remotely by their longtime friend and photographer Misan Harriman.



The couple were married in a high-profile ceremony in the UK in May 2018 .