THE attempted resignation of the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton should prompt a conversation about reforms of the monarchy, a senior SNP politician has said.
Late on Wednesday night, in a post on social media, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced that they were to “step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent”.
The news, and the fact that it caught Buckingham Palace unaware, infuriated some of the people who care too much about this sort of thing.
Piers Morgan, for one, was apoplectic, describing Harry and Meghan as “the two most spoiled brats in history”.
READ MORE: Is a UDI the best way to escape the royal family?
However, the SNP’s Tommy Sheppard, the party’s shadow leader of the House of Commons, was more sympathetic.
He tweeted: “As a long standing republican I feel for Harry and Meghan. People should be allowed not to be a royal if they want to.
“If ever there was an argument for reform of the monarchy – this is it.
“I continue to be amazed by how the political class regard this as a taboo subject.”
In their statement, Harry and Meghan said they want to split their time between the UK and North America, while “continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages”.
Reports suggest the couple had not consulted with the Queen, Prince Charles or Prince William before issuing the statement, and that they household was only made aware of the news 10 minutes before it appeared online.
It’s believed that over the festive period, the Duke of Rothesay had encouraged his to come up with a thought out plan for his wish to spend more time in Canada and America.
When he put forward a draft proposal he was then told time was needed to consider its implications, especially around the funding.
According to the London Evening Standard, the Queen had agreed to meet with Harry but said she would not discuss his proposals before he had talked them through with his father. During her Christmas Day address, the Queen spoke of the “bumpy” path her family and the nation had experienced in 2019.
At the time most commentators believed this to be a reference to her middle son, and his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Scottish Green MSP John Finnie told The National: “I welcome this royal resignation and encourage the rest of the family to follow this example, thereby paving the way for a democratic republic.”
The SNP’s Angus MacNeil tweeted: “There is a huge storm in a tiny tea cup about something or other.”
The couple have appeared increasingly unhappy in recent months, and Meghan in particular has been subject to far more criticism than any other member of the Royal Family.
Prince Harry has already denounced the media’s “bullying” of his wife; behaviour he likened to the treatment of his mother, Princess Diana.
In a separate statement the Duke and Duchess questioned the credibility of royal correspondents, and indicated their desire to work with “young, up-and-coming journalists”.
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