“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” the Queen said in a statement. “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.”
“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives,” she continued. “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.”
David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock
PA Images/Sipa
Royal historian and biographer of the Queen, Robert Lacey, tells PEOPLE that despite not referring to them as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in her statement, it’s unlikely that the monarch will strip them of their titles.
“The very next line refers to them as the Sussexes. They won’t have HRH taken away anymore than the Duke of Windsor did,” he says.
When the Queen’s uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated his throne, he was given the title of the Duke of Windsor and maintained his HRH status.
Ingrid Seward, the Queen’s biographer, tells PEOPLE: “It could hint that they are willing to give up their titles. I’ve never seen a statement as personal like that but we haven’t had a situation like this.”
Meghan and Harry chose not to give their son Archiea “courtesy title” upon his birth in May. It is traditional for the eldest son of a duke to eventually inherit his father’s title. Down the line, Archie could be given the secondary Sussex title, before inheriting the dukedom.
Prince Harry and son Archie.Sussex Royals
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE‘s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
Palace sources told PEOPLE that the Queen ordered Harry,Prince Williamand Prince Charles to meet at her country home on Monday in order to “talk things through.”
A source said it was likely the Duchess of Sussex would participate in the discussion on Monday via phone, as she recently returned to Vancouver Island, Canada, where she and Harry spent the holidays together with their son Archie.
source: people.com
