'We're royal disrupters': Prince Harry and Meghan Markle crafted new role after it 'wasn't working for them'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex see themselves as royal “disrupters” who want to help forge a new model for the royal family in the 21st century, the Evening Standard has learned.

Sources close to Harry and Meghan say they regard their role as similar to the tech innovators who have challenged the established heavyweights of the corporate world.

One source said: “It’s been clear this set up hasn’t been working for them and they’re keen to craft a new model.”

The insight into the ambitions of the Sussexes comes after they triggered a major crisis by announcing their plans to step down as “senior” royals and divide their lives between Britain and north America.

The Standard revealed yesterday that the couple pushed ahead with their bombshell announcement on Wednesday evening despite a direct request from the Queen to hold fire .

Meghan, 38, yesterday returned to Canada , where they spent a six-week Christmas break with their baby son Archie, but the Standard understands that Harry, 35, is still in the UK.

Harry has told the Queen and Prince Charles he will follow wife Meghan back to Canada as soon as possible as the crisis unfolds.

But first — as royal aides try to thrash out a deal — he faces an uncomfortable return to Buckingham Palace for a royal engagement hosting the draw for Rugby League’s men’s, women’s and wheelchair world cup competitions next Thursday.

The event will put the sixth in line to the throne back in the spotlight as it will be streamed live on the royal family’s Twitter and Facebook channels and attended by representatives from all 21 nations taking part.

The Queen will not be at the palace on the day but will remain at Sandringham in line with her normal winter schedule.

Until then, the couple are set to remain thousands of miles apart leaving Harry to deal with the fallout and “ongoing discussions” over a possible future role.

They had left eight-month-old Archie with their nanny and one of Meghan’s best friends, fashion stylist Jessica Mulroney, who lives in Toronto.

It is less than a week since the duchess and Harry returned from an extended “escape break”, staying in a waterfront property in Vancouver.

The Standard understands the trip was planned in such secrecy that not even close personal staff were told where the couple were going, and had to ask what sort of clothes to pack.

After returning to the UK, Harry and Meghan visited Canada’s High Commission in London to thank the country for hosting them and said the warmth and hospitality they received was “unbelievable”.

The following day the couple made the announcement that shocked the world and is said to have “hurt” the Queen, 93, who is said to want a swift resolution to the crisis.

Throughout yesterday she held a series of conference calls involving herself at Sandringham, Charles at his Scottish home Birkhall, William at Kensington Palace and Harry at Frogmore Cottage, Winsdor.

The Queen, Charles and William have also instructed royal household staff to find a workable solution “at pace”.

“Her Majesty has made it abundantly clear, now it is out in the open, she wants it resolved at pace,” said one senior courtier. “Everything is being done to resolve this swiftly,” another said,

Palace sources said that Harry and Meghan did not consult any other royal about making their personal statement until minutes before they went public.

Their statement said they intend “to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family, and work to become financially independent”.

They plan to split their time between the UK and North America, while “continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages”.

The decision came “after many months of reflection and internal discussions”, they added. In October, Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight.

In a statement on Wednesday, Buckingham Palace said: “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

Former actress Meghan, who is American, lived and worked in Toronto during her time in the popular US drama Suits, and she has several Canadian friends.

The couple were already preparing to launch their own Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from Kate and William’s foundation in June.

Their new charity is expected to be global, linked to Africa and the US, rather than domestic, and will have a commitment to female empowerment.

Last year the couple had made an application to trademark their Sussex Royal brand across a string of items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services.

In stepping back as senior royals, Harry and Meghan said they will no longer receive funding from the Sovereign Grant, public money totalling £82 million in 2018-19 that pays for the cost of official royal duties.

The couple said the grant paid for 5 per cent of their official office from 2019, with the remaining 95 per cent being funded by Charles through his income from the Duchy of Cornwall.

But the figure does not include the huge cost of 24-hour Scotland Yard protection, said to be up to £1 million a year.

Harry, Meghan and Archie at present are classified as “internationally protected people”, meaning they qualify must have armed security provided by the Metropolitan Police.

It is at the discretion of the Home Office and will be reviewed.

They also claim on their website that they will retain Frogmore, which cost taxpayers £2.4m to renovate, as their official residence so they have a “place to call home” in the UK. It is understood there is no appetite in the royal family to take the property from them.

The royal couple also announced they would also be adopting a “revised media approach” from the spring.

It will see them “engage with grassroots media organisations and young, up-and-coming journalists”.

The National Union of Journalists criticised the plans, saying the move appears to try and “prevent the media from functioning”.

Samantha Markle, Meghan’s estranged half-sister, has branded the couple’s decision to take a step back as a “slap in the face” to the royal family.

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