TORONTO -- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are 鈥�stepping back鈥� from the Royal Family, but how far back?
Harry and Meghan鈥檚 announcement Wednesday that they would 鈥渢ransition to a new working model鈥� in 2020 has riled up fans and haters and appeared to even puzzle the Palace, which released a rare pithy statement declaring the situation 鈥�.鈥�
鈥淓veryone is reeling with many more questions than we have answers at this point,鈥� royal commentator Victoria Arbiter told 麻豆影视 Channel.
Here鈥檚 what we know of the Sussex plan so far.
鈥楽TEPPING BACK鈥� -- BUT HOW FAR?
After a 2019 defined by tabloid drama and the couple鈥檚 desire for privacy, many royal watchers were expecting a change in 2020, said Arbiter. But the statement, which included a , still surprised many. Some had considered the possibility of a secondment in a Commonwealth realm such as Canada, said Arbiter, or a posting abroad for a few months.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone saw a statement coming that suggested such a finality as this one,鈥� said Arbiter.
One of the key phrases in the Wednesday statement was that the couple 鈥渋ntend to step back as 鈥榮enior鈥� members of the Royal Family.鈥� They stressed that they would still support the Monarchy, but to what extent remains unclear.
Will they still attend official royal ceremonies, including the Queen鈥檚 birthday parade Trooping the Colour? Prince Harry has traditionally taken on the duty of visiting the Field of Remembrance in November and other ceremonial roles within the military, but it鈥檚 unclear how many royal duties he will undertake.
鈥淭hese are all questions that technically should have been dealt with and answered by the Palace before any kind of bold statement like this,鈥� said Arbiter.
WHAT CAUSES WILL BE THEIR FOCUS?
The Sussexes made clear that they intended to maintain ties to their various patronages and charitable causes as they launch their new 鈥渃haritable entity.鈥�
For Harry, this means a continued focus on environmental and societal 鈥�,鈥� as outlined on their new site. This includes initiatives such as protecting Africa鈥檚 ecosystems, and supporting mental wellness. He will continue to support patronages, including the Invictus Games and the Royal Marines.
For Meghan, work with women and girls will continue to be her focus, with the Association of Commonwealth Universities and Smart Works, a charity for job-seeking women.
The new announcement suggests they may no longer undertake engagements and commitments just because of royal tradition, CTV royal commentator Richard Berthelsen said on 麻豆影视 Channel.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to simply do what they feel is important,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t will really differentiate themselves from most members of the Royal Family, but they鈥檒l still very much be in the public eye.鈥�
WILL THEY MOVE TO CANADA?
After a six-week break in which they spent an extended time in Victoria, B.C., there is much speculation that Harry and Meghan may choose to live in Canada. In their Wednesday statement, they said they would strike a 鈥済eographic balance鈥� between the U.K. and North America. Since Meghan has 鈥渧ery fond attachments鈥� to both Canada, where she lived for seven years filming 鈥淪uits,鈥� and the U.S., there鈥檚 a possibility for time spent in both countries, said Berthelsen.
鈥淚 think they have more possibility (for) privacy in Canada than in the United States,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f they go to the United States very much, or if they base themselves there, they鈥檙e going to descend strictly into celebrity culture and that鈥檚 something that I think they should want to avoid.鈥�
In the U.K., they wil continue to maintain Frogmore Cottage as a residence, which was gifted to them by the Queen. It was recently renovated with taxpayers contributing some 2.4 million pounds (US$3.1 million).
HOW WILL THEY MAKE MONEY?
Harry and Meghan said they intend to work toward paid employment, which is unheard of within the family (a few junior members make their own money).
But what will they do? Berthelsen wonders whether Prince Harry may take on work involving aircraft since he has experience with helicopters, and perhaps Meghan would do more guest editing of magazines, as she did with Vogue last year. Others have speculated they could make hefty sums from the 鈥減ublic speaker circuit,鈥� said Arbiter. They鈥檝e also trademarked the Sussex Royal name, which suggests they could stand to make money off branded goods.
They announced that they would forgo the 鈥淪overeign Grant,鈥� which helps pay for official residences and offices of members of the Royal Family. However, they said they would maintain some funding from Charles, the Prince of Wales. 鈥淭hat suggests they won鈥檛 be totally financially independent,鈥� said Arbiter.
WILL THEY DEAL WITH MEDIA?
The Sussex royals could become a more polished brand than ever. The new announcement was likely spurred by the couple鈥檚 continued conflicts with the tabloid press, said Berthelsen, who said they will likely not engage with journalists who don鈥檛 鈥渉ave a certain degree of ethics in their approach.鈥�
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to say 鈥榃e鈥檙e no longer on the public dime and we can choose who we engage with in addition to our own social media channels,鈥欌�� said Berthelsen. 鈥淭hat is really one of the biggest aspects behind this.鈥�
CAN THEY STILL BE 鈥榊OUR ROYAL HIGHNESS鈥�?
The couple has suggested they won鈥檛 be discarding their Duke and Duchess titles, which has already proven controversial. They may be accused of 鈥渃ashing in on their HRH status鈥� and 鈥渃ommercializing the Royal Family for commercial gain,鈥� Arbiter said.
Despite some headlines suggesting they have 鈥渜uit鈥� the Royal Family, the couple continue to stress that they will support the Monarchy and become less senior members. As the Palace statement suggested, the situation is 鈥渃omplicated鈥� and some details need to be ironed out.
COULD HARRY STILL BE KING?
Prince Harry was unlikely to ever become King. He is currently sixth in line to the throne, behind Charles, brother William and his three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.
