This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/meghan-flies-back-to-canada-prince-harry-in-crisis-talks-with-prince-charles/2020/01/10/5237cc54-3395-11ea-a053-dc6d944ba776_story.html

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Meghan flies back to Canada; Prince Harry in ‘crisis’ talks with Prince Charles Meghan flies back to Canada; Prince Harry in ‘crisis’ talks with Prince Charles
(32 minutes later)
LONDON — Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has flown back to Canada following the bombshell announcement that she and her husband, Prince Harry, are stepping back from royal duties, prompting renewed speculation that the couple will make Canada their part-time home. LONDON — Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has flown back to Canada following the bombshell announcement that she and her husband, Prince Harry, are "stepping back" from royal duties, prompting intensified speculation that the couple will make Canada their part-time home.
An official at Buckingham Palace confirmed reports that Meghan has returned to Canada. An official at Buckingham Palace confirmed reports that Meghan had returned to Canada — the latest act in a drama that the British press has dubbed “Megxit.”
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has stayed in Britain, where he is reportedly in deep discussions with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II; his father, Prince Charles; and his brother, Prince William about the couple’s future role. Meanwhile, Harry remains in Britain, where he is reportedly in deep discussions with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II; his father, Prince Charles; and his brother, Prince William, about the couple’s future role.
Or, as the Daily Mail put it: “Queen’s crisis talks with Harry: Duke of Sussex has been locked in four-way call with Her Majesty in Sandringham and Prince Charles in Scotland as they try to avert all out royal war.” Or, as the tabloid Daily Mail put it: “Queen’s crisis talks with Harry: Duke of Sussex has been locked in four-way call with Her Majesty in Sandringham and Prince Charles in Scotland as they try to avert all out royal war.”
Robert Lacey, a royal biographer and author of “The Crown: The Inside History,” said that the talks were likely about logistics and looking at ways to make the transition work. If the reports were true that the queen wants to find a solution “within days,” he said, “well, actually, this shows an awareness, an acceptance of reality, that it has to be made to work in a good and positive way.” Harry and Meghan are quitting the castle, but who’s going to pay for the butler?
Robert Lacey, a royal biographer and author of “The Crown: The Inside History,” said the talks were likely about details and logistics. If the reports were true that the queen wants to find a solution “within days,” he said, “well, actually, this shows an awareness, an acceptance of reality, that it has to be made to work in a good and positive way.”
“Canada is the ideal base for the two-way royal work they have in mind,” he said, speculating that Harry and Meghan may try to launch something in the model of the Obama Foundation. He added that “in post-Brexit Britain, it could make sense to strengthen ties across the Atlantic.”“Canada is the ideal base for the two-way royal work they have in mind,” he said, speculating that Harry and Meghan may try to launch something in the model of the Obama Foundation. He added that “in post-Brexit Britain, it could make sense to strengthen ties across the Atlantic.”
He said that Prince Charles, the queen’s eldest son, has signaled that he wants a slimmed-down monarchy if and when he takes the throne. “Some European royal families get by with four people,” he said, adding that those numbers would not work for Britain, where there is “such an appetite for royalty.” He said that Prince Charles, the queen’s eldest son, had previously signaled that he wants a slimmed-down monarchy if and when he takes the throne. “Some European royal families get by with four people,” Lacey said, adding that those numbers would not work for Britain, where there is “such an appetite for royalty.”
But Charles nonetheless wants to cut down on the number of working royals, he said, and part of that plan includes expanding roles for William, who would focus on efforts domestically, and Harry, who would concentrate on members of Britain’s Commonwealth of Nations. But Charles nonetheless wants to cut down on the number of working royals, Lacey said, and part of that plan includes expanding roles for William, who would focus on efforts domestically, and Harry, who would concentrate on members of Britain’s Commonwealth of Nations.
“But half a Harry is better than no Harry, and if Meghan can be kept onside and brought in, that’s all for the good,” he said.“But half a Harry is better than no Harry, and if Meghan can be kept onside and brought in, that’s all for the good,” he said.
 Harry and Meghan took the palace by surprise with their decision to step back from royal duties. There is speculation that the couple rushed to issue the statement after the Sun tabloid published a front-page story on Wednesday that claimed the couple were looking to move to Canada for a “significant portion of this year.” Harry and Meghan took the palace by surprise with their announcement. There has been debate about whether the couple rushed to issue the statement after the Sun tabloid published a front-page story on Wednesday that claimed they were looking to move to Canada for a “significant portion of this year.”
They attempted to explain how they see their role on their flashy new website, SussexRoyal.com, launched on Wednesday. They said they wanted to continue to work with their charities, which focus on issues such as female empowerment and mental health, and would also seek to set up a new charitable entity. The Sussexes said they would like to achieve “financial independence,” and while in the United Kingdom, they plan to live at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Tom Bradby, an ITV journalist who filmed a documentary with Harry and Meghan and is considered to be friends with the royals, disputed that the family didn’t know anything about the couple’s plans, but said they were caught off-guard by the timing.
But there are more questions than answers. How will they earn money? Who will pay for their security? How will they continue to work with British-based charities when abroad? What kind of funding will they receive from Prince Charles, who reportedly was not informed about their decision but pays for 95 percent of the couple’s expenses via his Duchy of Cornwall estate. Where will they live in North America? He told ITV News that Harry had been talking to his family for “some weeks,” and was asked by them to put the ideas in writing, which were then leaked to the press.
On the last point, they could decide to move to Los Angeles, where Meghan was raised and where her mother lives. “I think he felt once it had been leaked, all bets were off,” Bradby said.
But current speculation is that the couple will take up part-time residence in Canada, perhaps in Toronto, where Meghan, then an actress, lived for more than six years while shooting the legal drama “Suits.” They also spent at least part of their six-week Christmas vacation in British Columbia in western Canada, where they were spotted jogging and hiking around Vancouver Island. He said Harry and Meghan understood “there was going to be a slimmed down monarchy, and they weren’t really a part of it.” He also added there have been “really bad personal splits” within the family.
Eagle-eyed royal watchers have also noticed that the couple’s new website was designed by the same Toronto-based Web designers who did the Tig, Meghan’s now-shuttered lifestyle blog. Harry and Meghan attempted to explain how they see their new roles on a new website, SussexRoyal.com, which promotes “supporting community” above “serving the monarchy” or “strengthening the Commonwealth.” They said they wanted to continue to work with the charities they have supported, which focus on issues such as female empowerment and mental health, and would also seek to set up a new charitable entity. The Sussexes said they would like to achieve “financial independence.”
Canada is a member of the Commonwealth. Even though Prince Harry’s grandmother is the head of state — he will see Queen Elizabeth’s face every time he uses Canadian money — that doesn’t mean that Harry is an automatic Canadian citizen. As a British citizen, Harry can stay in Canada for up to six months at a time without a visa. The couple could also apply for work visas. But there are more questions than answers. How will they earn money? Will they continue to receive money from Prince Charles, who was reportedly not fully informed about their decision but pays for 95 percent of the couple’s expenses via his Duchy of Cornwall estate. Where will they live in North America?
The day before they announced they would be stepping back from public duties, Harry and Meghan visited Canada House in London’s Trafalgar Square to thank the assembled diplomats for the hospitality they received. Meghan said the family had an “incredible time.” “To see Archie go ‘Ah’ when you walk by, and just see how stunning it is — so it meant a lot to us,” she said. On the last point, they may decide to move to Los Angeles, where Meghan grew up and where her mother lives.
But current speculation is that the couple will take up part-time residence in Canada, perhaps in Toronto, where Meghan, lived for more than six years while starring in the legal drama “Suits.”
The couple and their baby, Archie, also spent at least part of their six-week Christmas vacation in British Columbia in western Canada. Harry and Meghan were spotted jogging and hiking around Vancouver Island.
Eagle-eyed royal watchers have also noticed that the couple’s new website was created by the same Toronto-based Web designers who did the Tig, Meghan’s now-shuttered lifestyle blog.
Canada is a member of the Commonwealth. Even though Prince Harry’s grandmother is the head of state — he will see Queen Elizabeth’s face every time he uses Canadian money — he isn’t an automatic Canadian citizen. As a British citizen, Harry can stay in Canada for up to six months at a time without a visa. The couple could also apply for work visas.
The day before they announced they would be stepping back from public duties, Harry and Meghan visited Canada House in London’s Trafalgar Square to thank assembled diplomats for the hospitality they received. Meghan said the family had an “incredible time.”
“To see Archie go ‘Ah’ when you walk by, and just see how stunning it is — so it meant a lot to us,” she said.
Jessica Mulroney, a Toronto-based stylist and close friend of Meghan’s, posted a quote on Instagram on Thursday, attributed to the filmmaker and singer Gina Carey: “A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.”Jessica Mulroney, a Toronto-based stylist and close friend of Meghan’s, posted a quote on Instagram on Thursday, attributed to the filmmaker and singer Gina Carey: “A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.”
How much did the British tabloids’ brutal coverage of Harry and Meghan impact their decision to ‘step back’?How much did the British tabloids’ brutal coverage of Harry and Meghan impact their decision to ‘step back’?
London’s Madame Tussauds removes Meghan and Harry wax figures from royal family displayLondon’s Madame Tussauds removes Meghan and Harry wax figures from royal family display
Opinion: The dark side of Harry and Meghan’s fairy-tale escapeOpinion: The dark side of Harry and Meghan’s fairy-tale escape
Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the worldToday’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign newsLike Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news