Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to step back as senior royals

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex - Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle - have announced they will step back as "senior" royals and work to become financially independent.

In their unexpected statement posted on their Instagram page, the couple said they made the decision "after many months of reflection and internal discussions".

"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."

They said they plan to balance their time between the UK and North America while "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."

According to BBC, no other royal - including the Queen or Prince William - was consulted before the statement and Buckingham Palace is "disappointed". A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said discussions with the duke and duchess on their decision to step back were "at an early stage", adding: "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through."

Harry is sixth in line to the throne - behind Prince Charles, Prince William and his three children.