News of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's resignation from British royal duties has become an international topic of conversation. Because of its phenomenal, this event has its own name: Megxit. Earlier, we discussed how Meghan's culture shock or cultureshock caused the polemic between Meghan and the British royal family. VOI's signature series "Opera of Love at the British Palace" follows, about the lives of Meghan and Harry following their abdication.
In early 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they would step down from being senior members of the kingdom. In the announcement they also said they wanted to be financially independent while continuing to serve the kingdom on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
Harry and Meghan Markle plan to follow the path taken by their uncle Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Rhys-Jones, Countess of Wessex. They both balance personal careers in TV production and PR, but still carry out royal duties. Although finally Prince Edward and his wife worked full-time as members of the kingdom.
But the unexpected happened. During a charity dinner on January 18 last year, Harry made a speech that he and his wife would not behave like his uncle.
"What I want to make clear is, we're not leaving. And of course we're not moving away from you," said Harry. "Our hope is to continue serving the Queen, Commonwealth and military associations but without public funding. Unfortunately, that is not possible."
Until finally on February 21, 2021, Harry and Meghan permanently left members of the royal family. The loss of royal status to them, makes Harry and Meghan lose their privacy.
For example, they no longer received funding from Soverign Grant, as they had emphasized from the start: they wanted to be financially independent. Previously, Sovereign Grant covered five percent of Harry and Meghan's official office expenses. The Sovereign Grant is an annual funding mechanism for the kingdom that allows members of the royal family to have their official residence and work space.
Another privilege that has disappeared is that they are no longer part of the royal rota system. This system meant that British media wishing to publish their photos had to have some sort of legal right from members of the British monarchy.
For that, Harry and Meghan will be treated like celebrities in general by the press. Their paparazzi photos will likely be posted online without their consent.
Finally, Harry and Meghan also no longer receive protection from the kingdom. This requires them to spend on their own to get protection.
By putting the throne as prince, does not mean eliminating the security threat that will face Harry, Meghan and their children. From childhood, Harry was taught about the need for personal protection and like other aristocrats, he was told his right to security "to the grave," said one of his former patrons.
Those who have performed royal security duties say Harry, Meghan and their families remain as targeted as before they left the kingdom and moved abroad. The former head of counter-terrorism at the Metropolitan Police Service, whose command includes protection of the royals, Robert Quick, said there were multiple sources of threats targeting Harry and Meghan.
“There will always be threats, from people who have an obsession (with the royal family) and even from people who are mentally ill. There will always be terror threats against high-value public figures, ”said Quick, as quoted by The Guardian.
The fact that Harry and Meghan are now seen as celebrities and civil society, moreover having conducted interviews with Oprah Winfrey that received wide attention, Harry and Meghan could have been the targets of kidnapping for political purposes or hate motives. Quick added: "You can't change who they are or their history."
Quick also refers to the couple's decision to move overseas. He said "I have never heard of the security forces providing protection to someone living abroad permanently."
It would be difficult if members of the Metropolitan Police Service, which are responsible for the security of the Greater London area in the City of London, England, provide long-term security outside the UK. They will be far from their own families and management will be very difficult.
“Harry and Meghan are now private individuals because they have no obligation (to carry out royal duties) and it is their choice. A royal member who actively performs state functions, "added Quick.
Royal protection is under the command of the SO14 Metropolitan Police Service. Simon Morgan was a personal protection officer for several royals, including Prince Harry from 2007 to 2013.
Harry recognized his patron officers who were mostly police, Morgan said. This is because several of the security teams have been with Harry over the years and are integrated into his life.
"It's a trusted role, you build a relationship with your" boss. " "You can understand how much anxiety it will be if your security measures are lifted," says Morgan.
Decisions about who gets security and protection are made by Ravec, a royal executive committee composed of senior civil servants, the royal family and senior Scotland Yard officers, with input from the British security services. The security system considers the costs that must be borne by the public.
Morgan also said the royal government, not even Queen Elizabeth II, could not provide or revoke security. "It's not a decision by the royal family, it's not a gift that the Queen can give or take away," Morgan explained.
Meanwhile, the editor of the Daily Mirror who often reports on the kingdom, Russell Myers, thinks Harry and Meghan should immediately fund their personal security. Myers thinks hiring security independently can be easily done.
He added that royal security forces may not want to be dragged around the world against the wishes of Harry and Meghan, who are no longer members of the kingdom. Private security officers will better understand that travel will be a large part of their job and not necessarily have the same relationship based in London.
“You have a lot of money, you will make a lot of money, so you have to get your own personal safety. Especially when you live in the United States, or when you want to live in New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, "says Myers.
As quoted by the Express, after their security was lifted, Harry and Meghan moved to Los Angeles, United States. They stay at their friend Tyler Perry's house, who also provides security. They then bought a mansion in Montecito in the Santa Barbara area.
Become a content creatorHarry and Meghan Markle did not waste time doing things after leaving the royal family. Earlier in the year, Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they had created a production company and signed a deal with Netflix.
As part of the agreement, the couple is expected to produce documentaries, documentary series, feature films, text shows and children's programs. The couple said their new efforts would be focused on "creating content that informs and gives hope."
"Our lives, with each other independently and as a couple have enabled us to understand the power of the human soul: courage, resilience and the need to connect," the couple said in a statement.
"Life is about storytelling," added Markle. "For us, to be able to storytelling through the lens of truth, which hopefully inspires enthusiasm, will be an extraordinary thing. Knowing how many people can know and vote to the many people who are underrepresented and don't really hear. "
In addition to Netflix, Harry and Meghan through Archewell Audio, collaborating with Spotify for podcast content. Harry and Meghan promise "different perspectives" and interviews with "amazing people." with their podcast. Their first podcast released during the Christmas 2020 period, is described as a holiday special.
Despite Harry and Meghan's departure from the royal family, the two of them will continue to do charity work. Now they have a charity called the Archewell Foundation. The organization's name is not based on the name of their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, but from the Greek "Arche" meaning "source of action," they say.
As for money matters, both Meghan and Harry have their own income. Prince William and Prince Harry received most of the £ 13 million fortune inherited by their mother, Princess Diana.
Harry is also known to have millions of pounds from his great-grandmother, who was the birth mother of Queen Elizabeth II. Meanwhile, Meghan, during her acting career, has been paid US $ 50,000 per episode for the drama Suits. She also runs a lifestyle blog and designs her own fashion line for Canadian brands.
Follow the Writing of this edition of Series: Love Opera at the British Palace
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
