Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The titles were created by Queen Elizabeth II for her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, on the occasion of their wedding in May 2018. The couple, known informally as Harry and Meghan, became prominent and controversial figures within The British Royal Family, undertaking official duties before announcing their step back in 2020. Their post-royal life has been marked by high-profile media deals, philanthropic initiatives, and continued global public attention.

Titles and styles

The principal title, Duke of Sussex, is a substantive peerage that was bestowed upon Prince Harry by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 19 May 2018. As is customary, Meghan Markle assumed the feminine form, becoming Duchess of Sussex, upon their marriage at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The dukedom, which had been extinct since the death of its previous holder, Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, in 1843, also conferred the subsidiary titles of Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Their official style and title is His/Her Royal Highness The Duke/Duchess of Sussex, though they agreed not to use the "HRH" style after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, a decision later confirmed by Buckingham Palace.

Marriage and family

The couple's relationship was first reported by the British press in 2016, leading to intense media scrutiny of Meghan Markle, an American actress best known for her role on the television series *Suits*. Their engagement was officially announced by Clarence House in November 2017. The wedding ceremony, a major global event, took place on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiating. Their first child, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, was born in May 2019, and their daughter, Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, was born in June 2021 in Santa Barbara, California. The family resides in Montecito, California, having moved there after their departure from the United Kingdom.

Royal duties and patronages

Following their marriage, the Duke and Duchess undertook a full program of official engagements in support of Queen Elizabeth II and the wider Commonwealth of Nations. They held numerous royal patronages, with the Duchess focusing on organizations such as the National Theatre, Smart Works, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. The Duke continued his long-standing work with the Invictus Games Foundation, Sentebale, and The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Their first major overseas tour was to Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand in the fall of 2018, which was widely covered by international media. They also represented The Crown at events like the Royal Ascot and the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph.

Resignation from royal duties

In January 2020, they announced their intention to step back as "senior" members of the British Royal Family and become financially independent, a move dubbed "Megxit" by the British press. Following a summit at Sandringham House with Queen Elizabeth II, The Prince of Wales, and The Duke of Cambridge, a formal agreement was reached. Effective from the spring of 2020, they would no longer undertake official duties, would repay Sovereign Grant funds used for Frogmore Cottage renovations, and would forgo public use of their HRH styles. This period was documented in their controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, which aired on CBS.

Post-royal activities and projects

Relocating to North America, they established their commercial and philanthropic base under the banner of Archewell Inc., which includes the Archewell Foundation and Archewell Audio. They signed a multi-year production deal with Netflix, resulting in projects like the documentary series *Harry & Meghan* and the docuseries *Live to Lead*. A lucrative podcasting agreement with Spotify yielded the series *Archetypes*, though the partnership ended in 2023. The Duke authored a memoir, *Spare*, published by Penguin Random House, which became a global bestseller. They have also made public appearances at events like the 2022 Invictus Games in The Hague and the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, while engaging in advocacy on issues such as mental health awareness and online safety.

Category:Dukes of Sussex Category:British duchesses Category:21st-century British nobility