The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, better known as Harry and Meghan, have announced that they will step back from being senior royals and will work to become financially independent.
They now intend to balance their time between the UK and North America and focus more of their time on raising their son, Archie.
The BBC reports that Buckingham Palace was "blindsided" as Harry and Meghan didn't consult any senior royals on their decision, despite it taking "many months of reflection and internal discussion".
Are Harry and Meghan right to step away from being senior royals, or are they shirking their family duties?
The Claim
Writing in the Daily Mirror, Rachael Bletchly argues that the Duke of Sussex has been a "petulant grandson" and his announcement will have been a blow to the Queen.
She says Harry "selfishly turned his back" on the royal family as an institution and said he "didn't even have the guts or decency to tell her, or his own father, of the bombshell he was about to drop in their laps".
Sky News reports that the couple have been hit by accusations of wanting to have their cake and eat it by receiving the royal treatment without performing many of the royal duties.
Harry and Meghan have said they want to become financially independent but have sought permission to continue living in Frogmore Cottage, a four bedroom house on the grounds of Windsor Castle, which recently received a £2.4 million refurbishment funded by the taxpayer.
The Queen owns the house, which is a Grade 2 listed building, but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to use it as their UK residence. If they aren't going to be carrying out as many royal duties, should they still get the royal treatment?
The Counter Claim
However, is it any wonder they want to step a bit further back out of public life, considering the abuse flung at them since they became a couple?
The Duchess of Sussex in particular has been targeted by certain parts of the UK press ever since she was first seen with Harry. He has also received a high level of scrutiny in the past year, with a number of stories claiming his relationship with his brother William has broken down.
Sean O'Grady of The Independent suggests that the royal family is large enough that other senior members will be fine to handle the main duties. Harry and Meghan aren't giving up on royal duties entirely.
He also believes that the decision from the couple has been "driven by love", writing that they probably don't want to bring up their son in the environment of scrutiny and abuse they are currently living through if there's an alternative option.
If there are enough royals to perform the main duties, and this decision will help them raise their son in a better environment, then isn't it for the best that they're stepping back from public life?
The Facts
The couple's expenses are currently covered by Prince Charles, who funds his sons and their families with his income from the Duchy of Cornwall. They will still be able to receive this funding after taking a back seat in royal duties.
They will also still be provided with armed security by the police as they are deemed to be "internationally protected people" by the Home Office.
Harry and Meghan have said they will still "proudly carry out official overseas visits" to support the Queen when requested to by the Foreign Office. Harry continues to be sixth in line to the throne.
Research from Sky News found that the Duchess of Sussex was frequently the subject of racist attacks.
This abuse started almost as soon as the couple started dating, with an official statement condemning the abuse being issued mere months after the pair first met. It said Meghan "has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment", noting "the smear on the front page of a national newspaper" and condemning "racial undertones of comment pieces".
By the end of September of last year The Sun had to issue an apology to the couple after the Independent Press Standards Organisation ruled a story about Harry and Meghan breached the accuracy clause of the editors' code of practice. The Duke and Duchess had informed The Sun the story was false before publication.
In the following month Meghan sued the Mail on Sunday after they published a letter she sent to her father. Harry attacked the British tabloids and said he couldn't be a "silent witness to her private suffering". The Mail on Sunday stands by their story.
