Megxit


On 8 January 2020, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, announced on Instagram their decision to "step back as 'senior' members" of the British royal family, splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America, and to become financially independent. The event was dubbed Megxit and the term became adopted globally on social and news media, spawning various internet memes and "Megxit" merchandising. The New York Times recorded: Megxit' Is the New Brexit in a Britain Split by Age and Politics".
Megxit led to a meeting of the royal family on 13 January, dubbed the "Sandringham Summit" and described as "unprecedented", and a rare first-person statement by the Queen on her family. The Queen was praised for her handling of the crisis. On 18 January, an agreement was announced whereby the couple would "no longer be working members of Britain's royal family", and would not use their "Royal Highness" styles. The outcome was described as a "hard Megxit".
Megxit came to signify the break by the couple from the British royal family and formal royal protocol, and their plans for independence under their new brand, Sussex Royal. The term also reflects a widely reported assumption that Meghan was the driver of their announcement and is considered by some to be pejorative. "Megxit" was previously used by internet trolls against the Duchess. Prince Harry would later say, "The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly … there really was no other option".

Background

Announcement

On Wednesday, 8 January 2020, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, made an announcement on their Instagram account of their intention to "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family". The post contained a link to a new website sussexroyal.com, that provided further statements regarding the decision. It was widely reported that few – if any – of the Royal Family had approved or had prior knowledge of the impending announcement, and the Palace issued an immediate statement saying: "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage".
While there appeared to have been months of conversations about the couple's future within the British monarchy, The Washington Post reported that the couple's surprise announcement was made as a result of a leak to The Sun newspaper of the likely outcome of these discussions.

Motivations

Immediately after the announcement, ITV News at Tens Tom Bradby, who had interviewed the couple a number of times during their October 2019 tour in Africa, was quoted in several sources as saying that the Sussexes were told during their six-week Christmas break at Vancouver Island in Canada that they would not be part of a "slimmed down monarchy" and that they were in effect being "driven out". According to The Washington Post, the royal biographer Robert Lacey stated that Prince Charles had advocated a smaller working monarchy.
In addition to Bradby's statements, other reasons raised included ongoing hostile treatment of the couple by some in the British tabloid press, and issues of perceived racism towards Meghan.
On 19 January 2020, after the final agreement, Prince Harry said in a speech, According to the BBC News royal correspondent Jonny Dymond, the speech sought to dispel what Dymond called the "Meghan myth", being "the idea that the Duchess of Sussex is at the root of the couple's desire to lead a different life". The Guardian reported that in the speech, Prince Harry appeared to "lay the blame at the feet of the press", calling the media "a powerful force".

Naming

In media

The British tabloid newspaper The Sun is credited with the first headline use of the term "Megxit" on 9 January 2020, to describe the couple's surprise announcement of their decision. The term is a portmanteau of "Meghan" and "exit", following the pattern of Brexit. Days later, some of the British media further elaborated on the relevance of "Megxit", and why they believed that Meghan was the driver of the announcement. BBC News commented that the alternative term "Sussexit" was trending on social media; however, it did not reach the level of use as "Megxit" in the mainstream media.
On 9 January, The Hindu noted that while the Commons had that day passed Boris Johnson's historic Brexit bill, that "Instead, it became a footnote to Prince Harry and his wife Meghan's decision to quit royal front-line duties — christened "Megxit" and shaping up to be equally complicated and divisive".
Alternative terms appeared in the media but did not catch on to the degree of "Megxit". The announcement was not an "abdication" as Harry was not a sovereign and was not resigning his titles. The couple's follow-up statements on their new website sussexroyal.com, implied that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not in fact "resigning" per se, and they wanted to remain patrons of their "royal" charities and wanted to take part in royal activities, while their Sovereign Grant represented only 5 per cent of their income. The term "step back" was also used, including by the couple themselves.
By 15 January, the term had become so widespread that The Times reported: "Megxit turns into a moneyspinner", for merchandisers who had made clothing and souvenirs using the term. The New York Times wrote that the parallels between "Megxit" and "Brexit" were greater than just "clever wordplay", and that the two terms involved the same divisions in British public opinion from "young liberals", and "older conservatives".
On 19 January, in reviewing the final agreement, The Guardian argued that "stepping back" was no longer appropriate, however, the couple had also still not "resigned" nor "abdicated" from the royal family. When reviewing the media reaction to the final agreement, BBC News said "there are no winners as a result of what many of the front pages are calling "Megxit" - the exit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as front-line royals". BBC News, and other British news media, called the final agreement a "hard Megxit", in a further word-play on political term, hard Brexit.
On 28 January, the term had become sufficiently pervasive, that the Financial Times in their FT Advisor supplement ran a piece for taxation professionals titled, "What if your client wants to do a 'Megxit'?", while Vanity Fair reported on actor Brad Pitt's "Megxit joke", at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards.

In trolling

"Megxit" was earlier used for internet abuse against the Duchess of Sussex. Since its use in media on 9 January, some sources have taken issue with the apparent pejorative nature of the term, and regarded it as further evidence of the animosity the Duchess had faced. On 17 January, Vanity Fair reported: "Though "Megxit" is now being widely used as a clever catch-all for the Sussexes' next step, it was, in fact, hatched by online trolls who have long used #Megxit as a rallying cry for a campaign of hate against the duchess".

Royal restructure

Sandringham Summit

On 11 January, reports stated that Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry's grandmother, was not consulted on the decision, while his father, Prince Charles, was reportedly "furious". ITV later reported that the Queen had arranged for "urgent talks" with senior royals at Sandringham on Monday 13 January, which has been dubbed the "Sandringham Summit". The Times speculated as to whether the meeting would result in a "Hard Megxit" or a "Soft Megxit", and that such a meeting of the royal family was "unprecedented".
After the meeting, the Queen issued a rare first-person statement on family matters, saying they had "very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family", and that "My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family". The statement concluded there was agreement to "a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK", and that "I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days". The Queen was praised for her swift handling of the crisis.

Final agreement

On 18 January, an agreement was announced whereby the couple would "no longer be working members of Britain’s royal family", would not use their "royal highness" styles, would no longer receive taxpayer funds, and would base themselves in North America. The Queen released a second first-person statement saying "I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life", and concluded: "It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life."
While the statement gives a "Spring 2020" deadline for completion of the agreement, specific known details were:
;Main details
;Other details
;Items not included
On 19 January 2020, it was reported that Prince Charles would provide the couple with "private financial support", for a full year in order to give the couple time to establish themselves, and to address fears of the increased costs of their proposed new lifestyle.
At a 21 January 2020 press conference in Winnipeg, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau again refused to say who would be picking up the security cost tab upon Harry's reported return to Canada that same day. Separately, The Canadian Press confirmed that Harry, Meghan, and son Archie were staying at a mansion north of Victoria, British Columbia.
On 14 February 2020, it was reported that the couple had decided to close their office at Buckingham Palace, leading to the suspension of at least 15 employees. On 19 February 2020, the announcement was made that the couple would continue undertaking royal duties until 31 March, after which they would step back and no longer undertake engagements on behalf of the Queen. However, the announcement further stated that the couple would continue engagements on behalf of organisations they were involved with, including the 2020 London Marathon in April and the Invictus Games in May. They would cease using their HRH titles, while the Duke would retain his military ranks, but see the honorary military positions he holds suspended. The situation would then be reviewed after twelve months. Additionally, the couple's attempt to make use of the word "Royal" as part of their planned "Sussex Royal" brand venture was put under review, with an announcement to be made at the planned organisation's official launch.
On 21 February 2020, it was confirmed by the couple that they would not use the "Sussex Royal" brand name "in any territory" following their withdrawal from public life in spring 2020 and all the applications filed for trademarking the name were removed. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the couple added that they would continue to work with their existing patronages in addition to establishing a non-profit organisation.
On 27 February 2020, Bill Blair, the Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness announced that they would cease providing security for the couple on 31 March, "in keeping with their change in status." In the same announcement, it was confirmed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police provided security for the couple on an as needed basis, since their arrival to Canada in November 2019.
In late March 2020, it was reported that the couple had relocated to the US. In response to the US President Donald Trump's comments that they will not pay for the couple's security, a representative of the couple said they had "no plans to ask the U.S. government for security resources". Since moving to the United States, the American-based private security firm, Gavin de Becker and Associates, was contracted to provide security arrangements for the couple.
On 30 March 2020, the couple announced that they would no longer use either their "SussexRoyal" Instagram account or website. Furthermore, it was reported that after closing their office at Buckingham Palace a new team would manage the couple's public image and philanthropic interests in the US, with Sunshine Sachs hired to manage their image and Catherine St. Laurent, a former Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation employee, to serve as their chief of staff and run their non-profit organisation.
On 6 April 2020, it was reported that the couple had started the paperwork in the US for their new non-profit organisation, which will be called Archewell.
On 20 April 2020, the Duke and Duchess announced that they would no longer cooperate with the British tabloids, including Daily Mail, The Sun, Daily Mirror and Daily Express, as well as the Sunday and online editions of those publications.

Reactions

In Britain

The initial British reactions to the 8 January announcement was of surprise, and concern whether the decision was properly thought through; the story dominated the British news cycle. The Washington Post noted several British polls that showed general support for the couple's desire to move, but with concern over the future exposure of the British exchequer to the couple, and with unhappiness that the Queen's approval had not been sought for their announcement.
British prime minister Boris Johnson distanced himself from the news, stating: "The royal family is one of the great, great assets of this country. I’m sure they are going to sort it out and I don’t think it’s necessarily helped by commentary from me." NBC News reported on analysis implying that the impact to the British economy from the loss of the couple could be material. Madame Tussauds immediately moved its waxwork figures of Harry and Meghan away from the display including the other members of the British royal family to a separate area.
On 19 January, The Daily Telegraph described the final agreement between the couple and the royal family as "the hardest possible Megxit", a view shared by many other British news sources; and that "Royal history was made". The Guardian reported that the "outcome is, perhaps, not the half-in, half-out role the couple appear to have anticipated". On 20 January 2020, royal biographer Penny Junor also told The New York Times that "The family is trying to prevent a half-in, half-out arrangement, which doesn’t work". On 22 January, The Guardian published a cartoon by Polish illustrator Andrzej Krauze, titled "Brexit and Megxit", saying "The rest of the EU is mesmerised as the UK prepares for Brexit – and Harry and Meghan begin their transition to exiting the royal family".

In Canada

The initial news was for the most part positively received in Canada, where the Duchess of Sussex had based herself with her son, Archie. The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, publicly welcomed the couple, and indicated that Canada would fund security protection for the couple while they were resident there. The Wall Street Journal reported: "‘Megxit’ Causes Global Uproar. Canada Shrugs".
Chris Waddell, a journalist, and professor at the Carleton University School of Journalism and Communication in Ottawa, stated that the couple would receive less scrutiny in local media in Canada than the UK and that it would be more costly for the British tabloids to follow them. Philippe Lagassé, an associate professor at Carleton University, who had previously suggested that it would be easy to make Prince Harry resident monarch of Canada, stated that "it’s a big source of national pride that the royal couple would want to be here. It makes Canadians feel better about themselves." An opinion poll by Postmedia Network found that 61 per cent of Canadians want Prince Harry to become Governor General of Canada. Chris Selley of the National Post was cynical of the national response and the poll, writing: "The prospect of the Sussexes decamping to Canada seems to have activated a sort of dormant monarchism in many of us, or at least an appreciation for the “modern-day fairy tale” – and that in turn has utterly incensed those who think monarchies are a grotesque anachronism and can't understand why everyone else doesn't agree with them". The Globe and Mail published an editorial that rejected the idea of the couple moving to Canada, stating that it broke an "unspoken constitutional taboo" about Canada maintaining distance with the British monarchy and being expected to rule from afar, stating: "They reign from a distance. Close to our hearts, far from our hearths." The editorial also called for the Canadian government to reject the moving plans. However, the chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada commented that it "doesn’t change the constitutional status of the Queen or the vice-regals" in the country".
In a poll released on 15 January by the Angus Reid Institute, 70 per cent of Canadians surveyed followed the developments of Megxit. In the same poll, half of Canadians surveyed stated they do not care if the couple spent significant time in Canada, while 39 per cent of respondents were in favour of it, and 11 per cent found it upsetting. Support for the couple spending significant time in Canada was strongest in Atlantic Canada, and Ontario, and was weakest in Quebec. However, 73 per cent of those surveyed by Angus Reid say that the security costs should be covered by the couple themselves. An online petition from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation garnered more than 90,000 signatures by 23 January 2020, demanding that the couple pay out of their own pocket for their security. The petition has been the second-fastest-growing in the group's history. According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, it cost more than C$56,384 in security fees during their stay between November 2019 and January 2020.

Elsewhere

In December 2018 Brighton and Hove City Council held a debate in response to a petition on behalf of residents which called on the council to reject the usage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex title, which is "disrespectful to the county of East Sussex".
On 8 January, the couple provided further back-up statements to their Instagram post, via a link on their Instagram post to a new website, sussexroyal.com, a brand platform that was initially expected to form an important part of their plans for financial independence, and which posted follow up statements on their announcement. The website was designed by the same Canadian team who built "The Tig" for Meghan in 2017, and was completed over the Christmas holidays when the couple were in Canada.
By 10 January, newspapers were reporting that the couple filed for a trademark for "Sussex Royal" on a range of items including clothing and printed items, though it also emerged that an Italian applicant had registered an EU application to trademark products using a "Sussex Royal" brand. The word "Royal" and images of royal crowns have special protection under UK intellectual property law.
On 11 January, The Daily Telegraph reported that couple would launch their "Sussex Royal Foundation" in April modelled along the lines of Obama Foundation, Clinton Foundation, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Follow-up reports showed the couple had filed World Intellectual Property Organization trademarks for: "Sussex Royal the Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex". In 2019, the couple stepped back from The Royal Foundation, which they had led jointly with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Later reports indicated that the couple would not establish a foundation of their own.
The Times reported Meghan had signed a voiceover deal with Disney, saying that "The arrangement offers a hint of the couple’s future life, using their celebrity status to benefit their chosen causes". Business Insider, speaking to various brand experts, reported: "Megxit, how Harry and Meghan could build a billion-dollar brand".
It was not clear from the final agreement on 18 January, how the "Sussex Royal" brand would be affected, or whether it could be used by the couple in the manner anticipated. The Guardian reported Palace sources saying, "The prospect of the Sussexes cutting commercial deals, while still at times representing the monarch, was too great a risk to the reputation of the House of Windsor and the monarchy". The Guardian noted that a previous attempt by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex to gain financial independence from the British royal family had failed.
On 21 February 2020, it was confirmed that "Sussex Royal" would not be used as a brand name for the couple. Harry and Meghan are also expected to establish a non-profit organisation later in 2020. In July 2020, the couple formally closed the "Sussex Royal" charity by filling out the required paperwork.