Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share final Instagram post to Sussex Royal account

Couple to officially conclude royal duties on 31 March

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have shared their last Instagram post to the Sussex Royal account, a day before they officially step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family.

On Monday, the couple shared the final post to the account, where they took the opportunity to thank their more than 11.3m followers for their support and reflect on the “extraordinary fragile” state of the world amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Thank you to this community - for the support, the inspiration and the shared commitment to the good in the world,” the post reads.

In the caption, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex discussed their belief that “every human being has the potential and opportunity to make a difference,” and their hopes for the future.

“What’s most important right now is the health and wellbeing of everyone across the globe and finding solutions for the many issues that have presented themselves as a result of this pandemic,” the couple wrote. “As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute.”

According to Meghan and Harry, while their followers will no longer see them via updates to their official Instagram, their work “continues”.

The couple also reiterated their gratitude to those who have supported them, before adding that they “look forward to reconnecting with you soon”.

“Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another,” the duke and duchess wrote.

In addition to concluding the use of their Instagram, the couple also ended the use of their Sussex Royal website.

According to a Sussex spokesperson, who shared a separate statement, although the couple “would prefer that in the immediate weeks and months the focus remains on the global response to Covid-19,” they understand that certain questions need to be addressed.

Going forward, the spokesperson said the couple will focus on building a new non-profit charitable organisation.

The couple has also employed US media relations team Sunshine Sachs “in the interim” to handle their communications and UK-based James Holt, as the Palace will no longer comment on the Sussexes under the new guidelines.

"Effective 31 March 2020, no other Royal communications representatives act on behalf of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, including Palace spokespeople, Household representatives nor Royal sources," the statement reads.

As previously announced, the couple, who are reportedly living in Los Angeles, California, have also hired their own security teams.

According to the spokesperson, the Sussexes “remain committed” to their royal patronages and will retain their HRH titles but no longer use them.

The new arrangements will be reviewed in 12 months time, as agreed upon by the Sussexes and the royal family, the spokesperson said, before adding that the couple plans to spend the next few months “focusing on their family”.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend the next few months focusing on their family and continuing to do what they can, safely and privately, to support and work with their pre-existing charitable commitments while developing their future non-profit organisation,” the spokesperson said in the statement.