Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announcement: Fans react to news royal couple are stepping down

'A trailblazing example of self-care'

Following the announcement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be stepping back from their duties as “senior” members of the royal family, fans have expressed both surprise and support for the couple.

On Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a statement on Instagram, where they revealed in an unprecedented move that in addition to stepping back, they would be working to become financially independent and be splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America.

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” the couple wrote. “It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”

According to the duke and duchess, the move will also enable them to raise their son Archie “with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity”.

In response to the announcement, thousands of people have shared their support for the couple - as well as their understanding of the possible factors behind the decision.

“A trailblazing example of self-care,” one person commented. “Kudos and best wishes.”

Another said: “Well. I hope everyone who helped make Meghan feel unwelcome are happy. Good luck to them. Our loss.”

While Meghan and Harry did not comment on other reasons that led them to the decision, some fans speculated that the media portrayals of the duchess in UK tabloids are partly to blame, as well as racist undertones to some of the reports.

In October 2019, the couple announced they would be taking legal action against The Mail on Sunday over “untrue” stories.

The move came after the duke released a statement in which he compared the treatment of Meghan to that of his mother, the late Princess Diana.

"I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person,'' he said. "I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces."

“Gonna be fun watching The Sun and The Mail try to write up their pieces lamenting Meghan and Harry quitting like they aren’t 100 per cent to blame,” Tom Felton tweeted.

One fan commented: “Good for Harry and Meghan. Everyone's gonna blame this on her, but between Charles' plans to slim down the number of working members of the family and Harry's utter contempt for the press, something like this was always going to happen, regardless of who he married.”

"I wonder what it was about the relentless racism, misogyny and media vultures that led Meghan Markle and her husband to literally resign from the royal family and politely tell everyone to f*** off," someone else wrote.

Others have claimed that Prince Harry has wanted to remove himself from royal duties for some time now - and that he would have done so despite his marriage to Meghan.

“Harry has been very clear that he didn't want the throne, the titles, none of it,” one person wrote on Twitter. “That was true long before Meghan was on the scene. It's just that now he's far enough out of the line of succession to leave.”

There are some people, however, that have criticised or questioned the couple’s decision.

“I don’t understand this. I mean Prince Harry never had any issues being apart of this family until recently. I mean you got to do what you got to do, but this is sad,” a commenter wrote on the Sussex Royal Instagram.

Another said: “This is very disappointing. You are born royal. Brother of the future king. It takes real courage to combine this role with your private life. This decision will affect all generations in the future. Sad. Really sad.”

Among those criticising the couple was Piers Morgan, who tweeted: “People say I'm too critical of Meghan Markle - but she ditched her family, ditched her dad, ditched most of her old friends, split Harry from William & has now split him from the royal family. I rest my case.”

Despite the negativity, many have praised the family for doing what is best for them.

"This is called setting boundaries. This is called considering others while also - and foremost - honouring your right to determine the path of your own life. Well done, Harry and Meghan!" one person wrote on Twitter.