- By Jennifer Clarke
- BBC News
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK after stepping back from official royal duties.
The couple has since launched various commercial ventures, including a new lifestyle brand headed by Meghan Markle called American Riviera Orchard.
Why did Harry and Meghan leave the Royal Family?
Angry about media intrusion, they were frustrated that Buckingham Palace stopped them developing their “SussexRoyal” brand.
Image source, Getty Images
The couple kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, but are no longer addressed as his or her royal highness (HRH). Harry also gave up his military titles.
When Harry’s father Charles became King, the couple’s two children became Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Where do Harry and Meghan live?
Harry and Meghan moved to California in June 2020, saying they wanted space to raise Archie. Lilibet was born there in 2021.
The couple no longer has an official UK residence.
In early 2023, they were asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage, a Grade-II listed property on the Windsor estate.
Image source, Carly b. talbot
In April 2024, documents filed to Companies House listed the US as the country where Harry is usually resident, instead of the UK.
The change was dated 29 June 2023, thought to be the date the couple formally left Frogmore Cottage.
Drug use can block US visa applications.
Do Harry and Meghan still come to the UK?
The duke has also returned to London several times for his various court cases against newspaper publishers.
The duke and duchess both came back to the UK for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, and her funeral in September of that year.
How do Meghan and Harry earn their money?
As working royals, they received 95% of their annual income from Harry’s father, then Prince of Wales. The taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant made up the other 5%.
When they stepped down as senior royals, King Charles gave them “a substantial sum” to help establish their new life.
In February 2024 the couple launched their Sussex.com website, which says they are “shaping the future through business and philanthropy”.
Image source, American Riviera Orchard/Instagram
In April 2024, Archewell said two new series were in production, one celebrating “the joys of cooking & gardening, entertaining, and friendship”, and another exploring the world of professional polo.
The couple previously featured in the Harry and Meghan documentary series, where they talked about life in the Royal Family, and The Heart of Invictus series, which discussed the duke’s emotional “unravelling” after military service in Afghanistan.
Archewell also made podcasts for Spotify under a contract thought to be worth $25m (£19.7m). The arrangement ended in June 2023.
Harry’s memoir, Spare, was published in January 2023.
The book’s publishers promised $1.5m (£1.18m) and £300,000 would be given to the Sentebale and WellChild charities.
Meghan wrote a children’s book called The Bench in 2021.
William and Harry received the bulk of Princess Diana’s £13m fortune when she died in 1997.
He is also thought to have inherited millions from his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.
It is not known whether the late Queen left him any money.
During her acting career, the Duchess of Sussex was reportedly paid $50,000 (£40,000) for each episode of the legal drama Suits.
She appeared in more than 100 episodes.
Image source, Getty Images
Why did Harry take the government to court over his security?
After stepping back from official duties, the duke and duchess were no longer afforded the security arrangements provided for senior royals.
When Harry first left the UK, he said it would be too dangerous to bring his family back without adequate police protection and took the government to the High Court.
Home Office lawyers said the duke would still have publicly-funded police security in the UK, under “bespoke arrangements”.
What is happening with Harry’s other court cases?
A number of other court cases are continuing, including:
Source: Why did Harry and Meghan leave the Royal Family? – BBC News