Queen Elizabeth Says She's 'Particularly Proud' Of Meghan Markle In New Statement

Queen Elizabeth singled out Meghan Markle in a new statement released Saturday regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back as working members of the royal family.

Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family,” the queen said in the new statement. “I recognise 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.”

“I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family,” Her Majesty said, praising the former actor for her assimilation into royal life.

Buckingham Palace said Saturday that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will drop their “royal highness” titles and no longer receive public funding as they step back from their royal duties.

They will also pay “commercial rent” on their UK home, Frogmore Cottage at Windsor Castle, and pay back the British public the $3.06 million spent on renovations for the home.

“It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life,” the queen added in her statement.

The queen stands with the Duchess of Sussex during a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018.
The queen stands with the Duchess of Sussex during a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018.

Meghan has faced incessant racist and sexist attacks since it was revealed she was dating Prince Harry. In November 2016, Rachel Johnson, sister of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wrote a racist article that talked about Meghan’s “rich and exotic DNA.”

“If there is issue from her alleged union with Prince Harry, the Windsors will thicken their watery, thin blue blood and Spencer pale skin and ginger hair with some rich and exotic DNA. Miss Markle’s mother is a dreadlocked African-American lady from the wrong side of the tracks who lives in LA,” Johnson wrote in the Daily Mail.

Shortly after the article was published, Harry confronted the “wave of abuse and harassment” his girlfriend was facing,...

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