Meghan Markle, Prince Harry are ‘much loved members of the royal family,’ says pal: ‘That stuff runs deep’
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may have stepped down as senior members of the royal family, but Queen Elizabeth still holds a special place in her heart for them, one pal insisted.
“[Meghan, Harry and their son Archie are] much loved members of the family,” a friend of the couple told People magazine for this week’s issue.
“That stuff runs deep,” continued the insider. “There is an element of working things through.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The friend pointed out that the former American actress, 38, and the British prince, 35, were personally invited by the reigning monarch, 93, to church on Sunday as a sign of her support for them.
A close royal insider told the outlet that while the couple was initially “hurt” by the negotiations involving their duties, “the family has really tried to make this as collaborative and kind and as loving as possible as they start this new trajectory.”
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Queen Elizabeth II (left) has reportedly banned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from banking on the "Sussex Royal" brand. (Getty)
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“Everybody’s really reassured, as the couple has gone out of their way to let everyone know that they aren’t abandoning anyone,” a source claimed.
On Jan. 8, the couple announced they will take “a step back” as senior members of the royal family and instead work independently, splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said their decision came "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," the couple shared on Instagram. “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. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Meghan Markle was a Hollywood actress before she became a member of the British royal family. (Photo by Lars Niki/Corbis via Getty Images)
"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages," they continued. "This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son 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."
The couple added they will continue to work with Harry’s grandmother, as well as his father Prince Charles and older brother Prince William.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support."
They will keep their royal titles.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Britain's Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle hold their baby son Archie as they meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town on Sep. 25, 2019. (Getty)
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Their announcement came just months after the couple opened up to host Tom Bradby in ITV’s documentary “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey,” which aired in October 2019 in both the U.K. and U.S.
While the special aimed to give audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the couple’s recent royal tour of southern Africa, the couple also spoke out about enduring ruthless tabloid rumors as new parents.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Markle and Harry welcomed a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in May 2019. The baby’s arrival came a year after the couple tied the knot in a televised royal ceremony in May 2018.
“I think the grass is always greener,” explained the former “Suits” actress. “You have no idea. It’s really hard to understand what it’s like. I know what it seems like it should be, but it’s a very different thing.”
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Meghan Markle's alleged request for privacy has sparked a fiery debate on social media. (AP)
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Markle said she and her husband have had conversations about being in the spotlight and all the negativity that comes with it.
“I have said for a long time to H, that’s what I call him, ‘It’s not enough to just survive something,’” said Markle. “'That’s not the point of life. You have to thrive. You have got to feel happy.’ I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a ‘stiff upper life.’ I really tried, but I think that what that does internally is probably really damaging.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The royal went on to tell Bradby she would be more understanding about the scrutiny if it were fair.
“I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair,” said Markle. “And that’s the part that’s really hard to reconcile.”
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (Getty)
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Markle said before she tied the knot with Harry, some of her friends warned her that becoming a member of the royal family would mean being under the constant glare of the public spotlight and losing your privacy.
“In all fairness, I had no idea, which probably sounds difficult to understand and hear,” said Markle. “But when I first met my now-husband, my friends were really happy because I was so happy, but my British friends said to me, ‘I’m sure he’s great but you shouldn’t do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life.’”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“And I, very naively — I’m American,” continued Markle. “We don’t have that there — [I said], ‘What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not in any tabloids.’ I didn’t get it. So it’s been, yeah, it’s been complicated.”
Markle also pointed out it’s been frustrating to see her name — along with her family’s — in headlines concerning stories she stressed just aren’t true.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 05, 2020 in London, England. ((Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage))
“If things are fair, that completely tracks for me if things are fair,” said Markle. “If I do something wrong I’d be the first one to go, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I would never do that,’ but when people are saying things that are just untrue and they’re being told they’re untrue but they’re allowed to still say them, I don’t know anybody in the world who would feel that that’s OK. And that’s different than just scrutiny. That’s, what would you call that? That’s a different beast. It’s really a different beast.”
Markle also got candid with Bradby about the negative attention she has received from the media during her pregnancy and first months with Archie.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging,” said the 38-year-old. “And then when you have a newborn, you know. ... and especially as a woman, it’s a lot.”
“So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed,” continued Markle while holding back tears. “It’s um… yeah. I guess, also thank you for asking because not many people have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Britain's Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge, front, with Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex, behind, attend the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London Monday, March 9, 2020. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family along with various government leaders and guests are attending the annual Commonwealth Day service, the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom. (Phil Harris / Pool via AP)
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When Bradby asked if it “would be fair” to say that she’s “not really OK, as in it’s really been a struggle,” Markle responded, “Yes.”
Still, Markle said Harry and their son have helped her get through tough times.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“It’s OK,” she said. “The good thing is that I’ve got my baby and I’ve got my husband and they’re the best.”
In the documentary, Harry also spoke out against the British tabloids for the “ruthless” treatment Markle has received “over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.”
“Look, part of this job and part of any job, like everybody, means putting on a brave face and turning a cheek to a lot of the stuff,” he explained. “But again, for me and my wife, of course, there’s a lot of stuff that hurts — especially when the majority of it is untrue.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“All we need to do is focus on being real, focus on being the people we are and standing up for what we believe in,” said Harry. “I will not be bullied into carrying a game that killed my mom.”