Meghan and Prince Harry sensationally announced last week their intention to step back as senior royals. And they did so, according to a source, without consulting the monarch, Prince Charles or Prince William beforehand. 

According to PR expert Anthony Burr, this move “forced the hand” of the monarch.

By going public with their statement, Meghan and Harry forced the Queen to act swiftly to avoid speculation from the media and criticism from members of the public.

Mr Burr, who runs Burr Media, told Express.co.uk: “Given the timetable of events leading to the statement, it now seems obvious that they wanted to force the hand of the Queen to act quickly and approve their plans on their terms.” 

The timing of the statement was also due to the fact that details of Meghan and Harry’s plan for their future had been leaked to a British tabloid, the expert said.

Mr Burr pointed out how important it was for Meghan and Harry to “be on the front foot” on their own story.

He continued: “They also knew that they needed to release their own statement before the Sun’s story went viral. 

“Otherwise they would be defending their move, rather than promoting it.

“However, if I would have been advising them I would have gone much earlier with the story.

“Just after New Year’s Day.”

Meghan and Harry’s decision to publish the statement before consulting senior royals ended up being a success for the Sussexes, the PR expert added.

He said: “It worked out well for the couple as it seems that plans are now being made to acquiesce with at least some of their wishes.”

Meghan and Harry said in their statement they desire to become financially independent and live between the UK and North America, in a bid to both pursue new projects and remind their son of his royal and British roots. 

While senior aides are still working round the clock to find a viable solution for both the Royal Family and the Sussexes, the Queen has already said Meghan and Harry will be allowed to live between the UK and Canada during the “period of transition” between being senior royals and their new status.

In a statement released on Monday at the end of a summit in Sandringham attended by the second and third in line to the throne alongside the Queen and Prince Harry, the monarch said: “Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.

“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.   

“Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.

“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.

“It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.

“These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”    

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