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 The prince, sixth-in-line to the throne, watched children
playing rugby league in the back garden of Buckingham Palace
ahead of making the draw for the sport's World Cup next year.
The event is his last scheduled royal engagement before he and
Meghan begin a "period of transition" to their new roles.
Last week, Harry, 35, and former actress Meghan, 38, sparked a
crisis in the British monarchy by announcing they wanted to
reduce their royal duties and spend more time in North America,
while also becoming financially independent.
The public announcement caught the rest of the royal family by
surprise and left the queen and other senior Windsors hurt and
disappointed, according to royal sources. A friend of Harry and
Meghan said the couple felt they had been driven out.
Following a family summit on Monday at her Sandringham estate
attended by Elizabeth, Harry, his elder brother Prince William
and his father and heir to the British throne, Prince Charles,
it was agreed that the couple would split their time between
Britain and Canada.
"Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time
working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand
their wish to live a more independent life as a family while
remaining a valued part of my family," the 93-year-old monarch
said in a rare, highly personal statement.
COURT ACTION
The couple have said they want a "progressive" new role for
themselves and the ability to fund themselves. Currently they
are not allowed to seek private income and most of their money
comes from the private estate of Harry's father.
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Meghan is currently in Canada with the couple's baby son Archie
where she has carried out a couple of low-key events this week.
Media reported that Harry would stay in Britain for meetings next
week as details about their future are hammered out before joining
her.
On Wednesday, Harry, who served for a decade in the British army,
published a video to announce Germany would host the next Invictus
Games sporting event for wounded military personnel, indicating he
would still give his support to causes he feels strongly about.
As one of the world’s most glamorous couples, they have struggled
with intense media scrutiny, with Harry describing some coverage of
Meghan as bullying, akin to the treatment his mother Princess Diana
endured before her death in a 1997 car crash.
Some observers have criticized British media for racism in its
coverage of Meghan, whose mother is African-American.
This week, the Mail on Sunday newspaper submitted its defense to
court action by Meghan over the publication of a private letter she
sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle. The case could see
Markle testify against her.
"There is a huge and legitimate public interest in the royal family
and the activities, conduct and standards of behavior of its
members," lawyers for the paper said in documents submitted to
London’s High Court.
(Editing by Stephen Addison, Guy Faulconbridge and Alison Williams)
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