Royal Family issues shocking reply to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's surprise announcement

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced yesterday that they will be stepping back as ‘senior royals’, but Buckingham Palace’s response has also taken royal fans by surprise.

• Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan revealed yesterday (opens in new tab) that they have taken the decision to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family.
• The statement was shared on their official Instagram page, but it seems that the huge step came as a surprise to Royal Family too, as suggested by Buckingham Palace’s statement.
• This follows royal news (opens in new tab) that the couple returned to work following their six-week break in Canada earlier this week (opens in new tab).

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex surprised royal fans all over the word yesterday when they announced they will be ‘stepping back’ from their roles as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family.

But following the announcement, Buckingham Palace issued an official statement that suggests the move was not discussed with the rest of the family.

The official response read, ‘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.’

READ MORE: Prince Charles delivers heartfelt message admitting he is ‘in despair’ (opens in new tab)

The BBC also reports that the Palace was 'blindsided' by Prince Harry and Meghan's decision, according to the BBC's royal correspondent Jonny Dymond, and that senior members are said to be 'disappointed' and 'hurt'.

The news that Meghan and Harry would be stepping back from their roles in the Royal Family was announced last night, on their official Instagram page.

Their statement read, ‘After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.

‘It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.

‘We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support. - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’.