On January 19, Prince Harry of the English royal family officially addressed his decision to give up his royal title in favor of a more private lifestyle with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their  Child, Archie.  

 The announcement seemed to have just been a matter of time, as many leading media companies predicted long ago that Harry and Meghan felt out of place in the family. Since news broke of their relationship 2016, media coverage and criticism have been plentiful.  As a biracial American woman, Markle made history and she inspires so many women around the globe. But, this status is not without struggle. There have been numerous instances of racism towards the duchess, which many ultimately think to be a major factor in the Prince and his wife’s decision.  Harry and Meghan have often spoken out against the perceived slander of their names, condemning the media for the hateful articles.  

Prince Harry announced to the public on January 19 that he and his wife intended to step back as senior members of the royal family and to become financially independent.  This includes their loss of title as His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness. While they still are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they will not be representing the Queen or carrying out their royal duties.  In the Prince’s speech he revealed that their “hope was to continue serving the Queen, the commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”  

While this decision may bring peace to Prince Harry and his family, it may mean differently for the Sussex brand.  It is estimated that Meghan and Harry’s wedding in May of 2018 brought about a $1.4 billion dollar boost to the UK economy.  The majority of these funds were from a sharp increase in tourism, as well as PR value. Their wedding was highly publicized and watched by people all over the world, with around 30 million viewers.  It will be tough to say how the Duke and Duchess’s decision will impact the UK economy, but it is sure that branding for the royal family will have to be reworked. Further, the decision will mean more royal duties for the other members.  It is expected that Harry’s former responsibilities will be divided among the rest of the family.  

While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s plans still remain widely unknown, there will certainly be some shifting in the royal family.  Until then, the world will be eagerly waiting for the tea to be spilled in the palace.

[1] https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/prince-harry-meghan-markle-leaving-uk-royal-family-racism-tabloids.html

[2] https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/19/uk/harry-meghan-royal-explainer-gbr-scli-intl/index.html

[3] https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/19/uk/prince-harry-meghan-statement-trnd/index.html

[4] https://www.insider.com/prince-harry-meghan-markle-could-leave-royal-family-2019-10 

[5] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/royal-weddings-14-billion-economic-impact-heres-the-boost-by-sector-2018-05-14