- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced in a January 2019 Instagram post that they would take a “step back” from the royal family, with plans to become financially independent while still supporting the Queen.
- On Saturday, Buckingham Palace released a statement announcing the couple would step back entirely from royal duties, pay back funds the couple used to renovate their UK home, and end the use of their royal titles.
- “While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty,” the palace said.
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote that “they value the ability to earn a professional income” on their website, which they were not allowed to do when serving as “senior” members of the royal family.
- As the couple points out on their website, they aren’t the first members of the royal family to forge their own careers.
- Princess Beatrice works in business, while her sister Princess Eugenie has a job in the art world.
- There is no word yet on how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to make money, though you can read more about their new phase of life on their website.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Part of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to “step back” from the royal family comes from a desire to make their own money, according to a question-and-answer page on their website.
The duke and duchess’ official website states that “they value the ability to earn a professional income.”
“Senior” members of the royal family are not allowed to make their own money, so the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will now become “royal with financial independence.”
The website also states that they “feel this new approach will enable them to continue to carry out their duties for Her Majesty The Queen, while having the future financial autonomy to work externally.”
It’s unclear how the couple will make money going forward, but the question-and-answer page on their site points out that they aren’t the first members of the royal family to potentially have their own careers.
Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandson, owns a sports management company.
Phillips is the managing director of Sports & Entertainment Limited, which specializes in events and sponsorships according to its website.
Phillips was born without a title, as his mother Princess Anne "rejected an offer from the Queen of titles which would have enabled their children to be born into the peerage," according to the BBC.
That made Phillips the first royal baby to be born a commoner in 500 years.
Princess Beatrice, who is ninth in line for the throne, works in business.
Princess Beatrice "works full time in business" according to her father, The Duke of York's, website. She is the Queen's granddaughter.
The princess is ninth in line for the throne, as well as the second woman in the line of succession, just behind Princess Charlotte.
Likewise, Beatrice's sister Princess Eugenie has a passion for art.
The Duke of York's website also states that Princess Eugenie "works full time in the art world," though it does not specify what that work looks like.
Tenth in line for the throne, the princess is the Queen's granddaughter and the first member of the royal family to launch a podcast.
David Armstrong-Jones, also known as the second Earl of Snowdon, makes furniture.
David Armstrong-Jones, who previously was known as Viscount Linley, is Princess Margaret's son, making him the Queen's nephew.
Armstrong-Jones founded a furniture-making business in 1982, according to Vanity Fair. He is known as David Linley in the professional world, which is his father's last name.
The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall has held many jobs, including winning a silver medal in equestrian at the Olympics.
Like her brother Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall doesn't have a royal title at the behest of her parents.
She's held many jobs throughout her life, one of which was being a professional horseback rider. She won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games for her skills.
In 2019, Tindall was named a director at Britain's jump racecourse Cheltenham, according to The Telegraph.
Lady Amelia Windsor, who is 39th in the line of succession for the throne, is a model.
Lady Amelia Windsor's father is the Duke of Kent, who is Queen Elizabeth's cousin.
Windsor is signed with Storm Model Management. She's been on the cover of Tatler, and she's one of the few royals to have her own Instagram account.
- Read more:
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just announced they're taking a 'step back' from the royal family after months of rumors
- The Queen reportedly asked Prince Harry not to announce that he and Meghan Markle would 'step back' from royal life
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry explain on their website why they're pulling away from royal life, and it has to do with money and the British press
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle burned the British press when they announced they were stepping back from the royal family
