Prince Harry, Meghan Markle bid formal farewell as frontline royals

Britain's Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle on Tuesday bid a formal goodbye to their role as frontline royals as they settle down to their financially independent roles in the US.

Harry, who remains sixth in line to the British throne, had announced the royal split along with his former actress wife Markle earlier this year and, as per the deal struck with Buckingham Palace, they will now be in a 12-month transition period with the option for the prince to return to his frontline roles by March 2021.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will hold on to their titles but will not be actively using them or formally representing Queen Elizabeth II from April 1.

As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute, they said in reference to their new roles away from the UK as the couple signed off as Harry and Meghan on social media.

"What's most important right now is the health and wellbeing of everyone across the globe and finding solutions for the many issues that have presented themselves as a result of this pandemic, the couple said in their final message on their Sussex Royal Instagram.

While you may not see us here, the work continues. Thank you to this community for the support, the inspiration and the shared commitment to the good in the world. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. You've been great! Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another, read their farewell message, which indicates their return to social media under a more private capacity in the future.

On a more philosophical note, they referred to the extraordinarily fragile world as it undergoes the coronavirus pandemic.

Yet we are confident that every human being has the potential and opportunity to make a differenceas seen now across the globe, in our families, our communities and those on the front linetogether we can lift each other up to realise the fullness of that promise, they add.

Alongside, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would prefer that in the immediate weeks and months, the focus remains on the global response to Covid-19.

"However, we recognise there are outstanding questions relating to their future beyond their household transition deadline."
"Their perspective on the role that empathy, connection, and compassion can play in that mission is both deeply personal and incredibly timely."