Queen Elizabeth Issues a Statement on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Decision to Step Back from Royal Duties

“These are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

Today, royal reporters and fans alike were shocked when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent out a statement, announcing that they were stepping back from their royal roles. (Other life changes mentioned in the statement include plans to live part-time in North America, and the intention to become financially independent from the monarchy.)

Now, we’re learning that even fellow royals may not have been clued into the news ahead of time. BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond reported on Twitter that “no other member of the Royal Family was consulted” prior to the release of Meghan and Harry’s statement. Dymond also reports that Buckingham Palace is “understood to be ‘disappointed.'”

BREAKING. BBC Understands that no other member of the Royal Family was consulted before Harry and Meghan issued their personal statement tonight, the Palace is understood to be ‘disappointed’.

— Jonny Dymond (@JonnyDymond) January 8, 2020

Almost at the exact same time, Richard Palmer, a royal reporter at the Daily Express, tweeted out a statement from Queen Elizabeth’s office at Buckingham Palace. “Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage,” it read. “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

Statement from the Queen’s office at Buckingham Palace: “Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) January 8, 2020

Complicated, indeed. But with their new website, Meghan and Harry attempted to get out ahead of the onslaught of questions that would inevitably follow their announcement. The site—interestingly, designed by Article, the same company used by the likes of Hypebeast and Diane Von Furstenberg—contains copious text explaining the ins and outs of the couple’s move towards financial independence, as well as their new media policy.

Still, the Palace’s claims that their conversations with Meghan and Harry are “at an early stage” and “will take time to work through” suggest that things may not be as settled as they appear on Sussexroyal.com.