LONDON (REUTERS) – Britain’s Prince Harry said on Sunday (Jan 19) it brought him great sadness that he had to leave his royal duties after agreeing with Queen Elizabeth that he and his wife Meghan would step down from official roles to seek an independent future.

Buckingham Palace and the queen announced on Saturday that Harry and Meghan would not longer use their “royal highness” titles nor receive any public funding as part of a deal to end a crisis the couple sparked by announcing they wanted to reduce their duties and spend more time in North America.

The new arrangement was struck to end a crisis the couple sparked by announcing earlier month they wanted to cut down on official engagements and spend more time in North America, while remain active royals.

In a speech to the Sentebale charity, a clearly upset Harry said the final outcome was not want he had wanted.

“Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations without public funding. Sadly that wasn’t possible,” the prince, the sixth-in-line to the throne, said.

“I’ve accepted this knowing it doesn’t change who I am, or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”

Under the arrangement, Harry will remain a prince and the couple will keep their titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they begin a new life split between North America and Britain, but they will not take part in any future ceremonial events or royal tours.

Royal commentators said it amounted to an “abdication” from the “firm” – as the royals are known – and showed that, under the warm words in which she said Harry and Meghan were much loved, the queen had taken a firm and decisive line by insisting on a clean break.

“It brings me great sadness that it has come to this,” Harry said.

“I want you to hear the truth from me, as much as I can share not as a Prince, or a Duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years but with a clearer perspective,” Harry said.

“The UK is my home and a place that I love. That will never change.”

The couple’s plans for independence, announced after a long break over the Christmas period in Canada, caught the rest of the royal family by surprise earlier this month and left the queen and other senior Windsors hurt and disappointed, according to royal sources. 

However, in a TV interview aired in October, both had made it clear how they were struggling with the immense media attention. 

Harry said he felt his wife had faced “bullying” from some tabloids similar to that faced by his mother Princess Diana who died in a car crash while trying to escape paparazzi photographers. 

A friend of the couple also said last week they felt they had been driven out by some members of the royal family. 

“I was born into this life and it is a great honour to serve my country and the queen,” he said.  “When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing. You’ve looked out for me for so long but the media is a powerful force and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us.”

Buckingham Palace have said the couple would no longer receive public money and that they would repay the cost of refurbishing their cottage in Windsor, which official figures show amounted to 2.4 million pounds (S$4.21 million). 

But certain details, such as their future security arrangements or whether the couple could continue to use the “Sussex Royal” title for their website and branding, have either not been finalised or publicly revealed. 

Meghan is currently in Canada with their baby son Archie and Harry is expected to join her soon. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier on Sunday he believed that the whole of Britain would want to wish the very best to the couple for their future. 

“As I said before … I was sure that the royal family, which has been around a very long time, will find a way forward,”  Johnson told Sky News.

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