Queen agrees to let Harry and Meghan step back as full-time royals

Queen Elizabeth, after crisis talks with top family members, has agreed to let Harry and Meghan step down as senior royals and divide their time between the U.K. and Canada during a "period of transition."

The queen chaired talks with Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry at her country estate, Sandringham, in Norfolk in the east of England. Meghan reportedly joined the talks by phone from Canada.

The statement notes that the discussions had proved ‘constructive’ and that the royal family was supportive of the young couple’s desire to create a more independent life for themselves.

“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” the statement issued in the name of the Queen said.

“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. 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 statement further said.

In reference to the complex financial issues involved, the statement said: “Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK. These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”

The statement however showed that Queen Elizabeth broke protocol by referring to the couple by their first names rather than the Duke and Duchesss of Sussex. This has already led to speculation of the young couple being stripped of their HRH titles.

In a bid to chart the Royal Family through the raging crisis, it was gathered that Her Majesty ordered courtiers to double down on developing a blueprint for the Sussexes future.

It is unclear if the Prince Charles's Crown Estate will continue to fund Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's progressive lifestyle, the Queen's statement however acknowledged the couple's ambition to become financially independent.