Boris Johnson has wished Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “the very best” for the future as they negotiated their exit from the royal family.
The prime minister said he was “sure” that the Queen and her family will “find a way forward” after the Sussexes announced they will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring, no longer use HRH and will repay the taxpayers’ millions spent on their Berkshire home.
Visiting Berlin for a summit on the Libyan civil war, Johnson said: “Yes, of course I think the whole country will want to join in wishing them the very best for the future.
“I said before that I was sure that the royal family, which has been around a very long time, will find a way forward and I’m sure it will.”
As part of the arrangement, Harry and Meghan will also repay £2.4 million of taxpayer’s money spent on renovating their Berkshire home, Frogmore Cottage.
The Queen said in a statement: “Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.”
Harry and Meghan said in their statement, issued on their behalf by Buckingham Palace, that under the agreement they understood they were “required” to step back from royal duties.
The deal is a hard “Megxit” for the couple – as the issue has been dubbed by the media – and a source told PA news agency “you can’t be half in and half out”.
It comes after Harry and Markle entered a transition phase of living in Canada and the UK after announcing they were on 8 January they were stepping back from senior royal duties.
The couple’s unexpected announcement prompted speculation about the reasons behind their decision. The pair have faced years of scrutiny from parts of the media – and racist abuse from the public, especially online.
Meghan is currently taking legal action against the Mail on Sunday and its parent company, Associated Newspapers.
The newspaper is accused of unlawfully publishing one of Meghan’s private letters to her father. The Mail on Sunday argues publishing the letter was justified and says there is a “huge and legitimate” public interest in the “personal relationships” of the royals.
Earlier this week, a study for HuffPost UK by analysts at the University of Sunderland revealed hundreds of racist and sexist tweets aimed at Meghan following the couple’s decision to step back.
It is understood the couple will now spend the majority of their time in Canada, with Harry expected to join his wife sometime this week.