Yahoo News The Sussexes Have an Official Start Date for Their Transition to Normal Life
Buckingham Palace has shared an official press release further detailing the goings-on related to Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's exit as senior working members of the royal family.
Per the release, information on the couple's official patronages, upcoming charity, and confirmation on their official titles is all further clarified.
Plans for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's official transition away from life as senior working royals are officially underway.
According to a press release via Buckingham Palace, further details regarding the Sussexes stepping away from royal life have been provided and clarified, including when Harry and Meghan's official "end date" as royals will be.
Per the release, the Sussexes "transition" will begin on March 31, as will a year-long review headed by the palace. Without a precedent of senior royals voluntarily stepping down from royal life, this review period has been assigned to the Sussexes to ensure their newfound working arrangement works for both parties involved. Further information—such as the state of their royal titles and assigned patronages—confirmed and explained by the palace in the release is discussed below.
Patronages and Usage of Royal Titles
Since the news of the Sussexes stepping down first broke, whether or not the couple would retain their HRH titles has been a cause up for public debate. According to the palace's release, however, Harry and Meghan will still retain their HRH titles, though they will not actively use them when promoting themselves and their independent endeavors going forward. They will continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as their additional titles, the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton and the Baron and Baroness Kilkeel. Prince Harry still remains sixth in the line of succession to the throne, and the couple's status in the order of precedence is unchanged. Discussions on whether or not the pair will be able to use the term royal in their future branding, however, are still ongoing.
Designated Patronages and Upcoming Royal Engagements
The Sussexes official transition date is slated for March 31, so the couple still has a handful of royal obligations to fulfill until then. According to the palace, Harry will still be in attendance at the Endeavour Fund Awards, Mountbatten Festival of Music, the opening of the new Silverstone Experience museum, as well as sitting in on a re-recording of Jon Bon Jovi's hit "Unbroken" in support of the Invictus Games Foundation.
Meghan, respectively, is expected to celebrate International Women's Day with a to-be-announced event on March 8. Both the duke and duchess will attend a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9 for Commonwealth Day in support of the queen, as well as the upcoming Invictus Games in May.
Once the Sussexes royal transition period officially begins, the couple will still continue to work closely with their existing patronages. Harry is expected to further promote causes correlated with the welfare of servicemen and women, conservation, and sport for social development and HIV awareness. For Meghan, her work will continue to highlight women's empowerment, gender equality, and education.
Upcoming Charity Announcement and Future Representation
Since Harry and Meghan will no longer be embarking on royal duties on behalf of the queen and the sovereign grant, the Sussexes will no longer retain an office at Buckingham Palace. Going forward, the Sussexes will be represented by their U.K. foundation team. Alongside still working closely with their designated patronages, Harry and Meghan will be actively working to build and begin their new charity organization, details on which will be shared later in the year.
Together, through their designated patronages and nonprofit work, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to promote and uplift causes related to the Commonwealth, community, youth empowerment, and mental health.
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