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Harry And Meghan Stripped Of 'Royal Highness' Titles, Will No Longer Receive Public Funding

LONDON (CBSLA/AP) — Buckingham Palace says Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, will no longer use the titles "royal highness" or receive public funds under a deal struck Saturday for them to step aside as senior royals.

Buckingham Palace said Harry and Meghan will cease to be working members of the royal family when the new arrangements take effect in "spring 2020." They will be known as Harry, Duke and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

The couple will no longer use the titles His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness, but they are not being stripped of them. Harry will remain a prince and sixth in line to the British throne.

The palace says the couple will repay some 2.4 million pounds ($3.1 million) of taxpayers' money that was spent renovating their home near Windsor Castle.

In a statement Saturday, Queen Elizabeth II said she was pleased that "together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family."

The Queen also acknowledged the couple's desire for more privacy: "I recognize 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."

The announcement came after days of talks among royal courtiers sparked by Meghan and Harry's announcement last week that they wanted to step down as senior royals and live part-time in North America.

Buckingham Palace did not disclose who will pay for the couple's currently taxpayer-funded security. The palace said it does not comment "on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security."

The couple announced earlier that they will be splitting their time between England and North America. Their permanent residence is likely to be in Canada, where they just spent several weeks, as well as a home, or homes, in the U.S.

It is suspected that they will put down roots in Los Angeles, Markle's hometown and where her mom still lives.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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