All of the wild reactions to Meghan Markle, Prince Harry stepping down
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left royal fans around the globe stunned Wednesday after announcing that they were stepping back from their roles as “senior” members of the royal family.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the royals wrote on Instagram, in the caption of a photo from their engagement announcement in November 2016.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex added, noting that they will now split their time between the U.K. and North America.
People on Twitter, naturally, lost it over the news and had all kinds of reactions to the “Meg-xit” on their hands.
“Good for Meghan and Harry opting out of the UK tabloids staggering racism and the lack of support from the royal family,” author Roxane Gay tweeted. “They will be fine.”
Most people were rooting for the couple’s decision — and for Meghan, of course:
Here’s the actual note Meghan left on the Queen’s desk.
5348:10 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy107 people are talking about this
American Divorcées: 2
House of Windsor: 08,8898:08 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy1,699 people are talking about this
Excuse me did Meghan Markle just direct a gender-swapped Hallmark movie where the prince gives up his crown for love??16.2K8:11 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy2,891 people are talking about this
“You want Brexit? I’ll give you a fucking Brexit.” — Meghan Thee Markle68.6K7:58 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy10.9K people are talking about this
I’m here for #Megxit tho. Get out of there alive Meghan!1,3588:05 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy269 people are talking about this
Isaac Fitzgerald✔@IsaacFitzgerald
This is my FAVORITE heist. The woman straight up stole a prince. Incredible. 8,8167:56 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy1,016 people are talking about this
First time I’ve ever seen someone quit their family, saying it’s to spend more time with their jobs. https://twitter.com/nbcnews/status/1214980955141812225 …NBC News✔@NBCNewsJUST IN: Harry and Meghan say they plan to step back as senior members of the British Royal family, and “carve out a progressive new role within this institution” while working “to become financially independent.”30.2K7:49 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy4,611 people are talking about this
Meghan Markle just pulled off the greatest theft of British property since the Revolutionary War
Respect https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1214979436396855296 …Piers Morgan✔@piersmorganBREAKING: Prince Harry & his wife Meghan are quitting the Royal Family. …937:43 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy19 people are talking about this
And obviously, some people wondered how long it would take for them to adjust to “normal” life:
a sitcom where Meghan teaches Harry how to do workforce things such as using Turbotax & meal prepping & filling out a W-1, please1,1987:57 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy180 people are talking about this
The Crown season 22: the royals open an Arby’s in suburban Nashville and try to give this whole American thing a go3268:10 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy53 people are talking about this
Would be sweet if Harry decided to drive an Uber for a few months while he gets back on his feet318:08 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Mike Hogan’s other Tweets
Joumana Khatib✔@joumana_khatib
how long till i see harry and meghan at the food coop628:03 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy16 people are talking about this
Kate Taylor✔@Kate_H_Taylor · 9h
currently SCREAMING in the office about how harry and meghan will achieve financial independence!!! lots of questions!!!!
List of possible career paths for Harry:
– VC
– Commercial airline pilot267:58 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Avery Hartmans’s other Tweets
A lot of people were wondering what was going on with the writing staff of “The Crown”:
Live look at the Crown writers room 22.7K8:05 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy5,470 people are talking about this
Season 8 of the Crown is gonna be lit428:07 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Jon Ward’s other Tweets
And of course, there were allusions Prince Andrew’s recent decision to step back from his place in the royal family after his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light:
Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.
Harry and Meghan make history as first royals to resign NOT in disgrace.1388:08 PM – Jan 8, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy22 people are talking about this
It’s unclear what the future holds for the royals ― or when exactly they’ll make the official split ― but Harry alluded to his future work in an interview in October for an ITV documentary.
“The rest of our lives, our life’s work will be predominately focused on Africa, on conservation,” he said in “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey.”
“There are 19 Commonwealth countries across this continent so there’s a lot of things to be done, but there’s also huge potential,” Harry added.
Subscribe to HuffPost’s Watching the Royals newsletter for all things Windsor (and beyond).
Related…
This Was The Decade We Fell Back In Love With The Royals
Friend Gives Details On Prince Harry’s ‘Family Dispute’ With Prince William
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Announce Decision To ‘Step Back’ As Senior Royals
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.