Brexit replaced by “Megxit”

Brexit was dethroned from the country’s agenda by the news that Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife Duchess Meghan Markle are stepping down from their royal duties, and thus replaced by “Megxit” in a reference to Brexit.

The United Kingdom entered 2020 with news that surprised both the royal family and the whole world. The Prince and Princess have resigned from their duties... In early January, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Duchess Meghan, announced that they are stepping down from their senior roles in the royal family and would work to be financially independent.

The Sun used the term “Megxit” in its headline, as a play on the words referring to Brexit, Britain’s process of leaving the European Union, which has been occupying the primary place in the British press agenda for a long time.

New decision in the new year The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement: “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

10 Turkish British Magazine I January - February 2020 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.”

The Duke and Duchess said that living between England and North America would enable their son to “appreciate the royal tradition into which he was born,” and provide them with the opportunity to focus on the next chapter of their lives. They’re going to live in Canada. While the couple will be living between England and North America, they stated that they will continue to honor their duties to the Queen, the Commonwealth and their patronages. Harry and Meghan also said they plan to establish a charity. “Especially with your encouragement over the last few years, we felt ready to make this arrangement,” the couple said in a message to their Instagram followers, and said they would continue to announce future developments. It has long been felt that there was a rift between the couple and the royal family.

The couple had gone to Canada with their son Archie, born in May, taking six weeks off their royal duties during the Christmas period. After returning to the UK, Harry and Meghan visited the High Office of Canada in London and thanked them for their hospitality. Meghan, who has starred in films and television series in the past, had lived in Toronto, Canada, while starring in Suits, the US TV series. Harry criticised for making an emotional decision Dickie Arbiter, the former press secretary of Buckingham Palace, commented that such a decision showed that Harry was acting emotionally. Arbiter said the news in the British press about the couple, their children and the problems they had, also played a role in this decision. Prince Harry had strong reactions to the British media’s harassment of his wife and likened the media’s attitude to that shown to his mother, Princess Diana. British newspapers reported that the statement by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Duchess Meghan Markle, announcing their withdrawal from their royal posts, had also caused grave disappointment at the Palace. Prince Harry is ranked in 6th place to the throne after his father Prince Charles, his brother Prince William and his three children. After it was revealed that Harry and Meghan were getting married, there had been a lot of news about Meghan’s past acting career and family history, particularly in British tabloids.