Since Wednesday the news of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step down has been on the high rise. The couple took to Instagram to share the announcement.
Sharing her thoughts, the Queen released a statement saying “Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”
However, we have a list of other Royal’s who have stepped back from their official duties.
King Edward VIII, forfeited the throne in 1936 December to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
Wallis was at the time married to Ernest and so the government and church would not accept her as Queen if married to the King. However, after an unsuccessful attempt at a morganatic marriage, Edward VIII abdicated with Wallis Simpson leaving the throne to his brother the Duke of York.
Prince Charles, the Duke of York announced his withdrawal from public duties in 2019 in a statement:
“for the foreseeable future” following his appearance on BBC’s Newsnight. Andrew’s attempt to explain his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein backfired and he was heavily criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and remorse over his friendship with the disgraced financier. The Duke has only been seen in public a handful of times since the interview and a large number of his major patronages have accepted his resignation and others have distanced themselves from him.
After a divorce, Sarah Ferguson Andrew’s ex-wife the Duchess of York no longer holds an official capacity in the Royal family but still attends Royal functions regularly. She was at The Duke and Duches of Sussex’s wedding in 2018 and more recently at the Royal Ascot.
The Princes of Wales, Diana, in August 1996 after her divorce resigned from 93 charities and was stripped of the title ‘ Her Royal Highness’
However, she maintained her relationship with six including Centrepoint, the National Aids Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital for children.
Photos by GETTY IMAGES
