Harry and Meghan launch slick 'Sussex Royal' website after stepping down from royal duties

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Bonnie Christian9 January 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan launched a slick new website outlining their “progressive new role” within the monarchy after the bombshell announcement that they will be stepping back as senior royals.

Posts on the website sussexroyal.com detail the “new working model” for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex going forward.

Key changes include a new media policy, the future of their charitable work and how they will be funded.

In their announcement on Wednesday, Harry and Meghan said their family will split their time between the UK and North America and work to become "financially independent" as they seek to "provide our family with the space to focus on the next chapter".

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle PDAs

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Their website explains they have been prohibited from earning their own income as royals as they receive money from the Sovereign Grant.

The Sussex’s financial aims outlined on their website state the couple “…value the ability to earn a professional income, which in the current structure they are prohibited from doing. For this reason they have made the choice to become members of the royal family with financial independence.”

Any future role which the couple take on for financial gain will have to be scrutinised to ensure they are not seen as profiteering from their position as members of the monarchy.

However, tax payers will still be expected to pay for their security.

Referring to armed security by the Metropolitan Police mandated by the Home Office, the website states: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are classified as internationally protected people which mandates this level of security."

The couple also announced they would also be withdrawing from the “royal rota” system that allows British media organisations to cover their work in recognition of the monarchy being a publicly-funded organisation.

They said they intend to now offer access to specially-invited media and dispense news via their own official communications and social media channels.

It comes after the pair admitted during an ITV interview last year that their mental health was suffering as a result of media scrutiny from tabloid newspapers.

In October, the duchess began legal action against the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters.

And the duke also began legal action against the owners of the Sun, the defunct News of the World, and the Daily Mirror, in relation to alleged phone-hacking.

The website took a swipe at media outlets “twisting” stories from Royal correspondents and claimed the new policy will allow them to take a tougher stance on inaccurate reporting and invasions into their privacy.

Harry and Meghan have launched a new official website sussexroyal.com
AFP via Getty Images

The website said: "Regrettably, stories that may have been filed accurately by royal correspondents are also often edited or rewritten by media editorial teams to present false impressions."

However the statement added: "Their Royal Highnesses recognise that their roles as members of the Royal Family are subject to interest, and they welcome accurate and honest media reporting, as well as being held to account if appropriate.

"Equally, like every member of society, they also value privacy as individuals and as a family."

Following the dramatic announcement on Wednesday, it emerged the Queen and Prince Charles were left in the dark about the timing of the statement’s release.

It is understood Prince Harry told senior royals of his intentions but was told to put it in writing.

When his intentions became public he decided to make his official announcement any way on his website, sources said.

Buckingham Palace also said discussions with Harry and Meghan on their decision were “at an early stage”, warning the situation would be "complicated".

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