Royal pain over Harry and Meghan shocker

Britain's royal family was hurt and disappointed by the bombshell resignation from front-line royal duties of Prince Harry and wife Meghan, who said they wanted to spend more time in North America, a royal source said.

Harry and Meghan's announcement, made on social media, took Queen Elizabeth - Harry's grandmother - and Prince Charles - Harry's father - by surprise and they were not consulted on the statement.

Harry said after months of reflection and discussion, they planned to carve out a "progressive new role" by stepping back and splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America to allow their family the space it needed.

They hope to become financially independent and set up a charity, while continuing some royal duties.

Cast by the couple as an exciting next step, it was not immediately clear how they will become what royal biographers said was akin to being a "half royal" - and who will pay for their transatlantic lifestyles.

Royal commentators drew parallels with the abdication crisis of Edward VIII, who gave up the throne in 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson and lived out his life in France.

Buckingham Palace said discussions with the duke and duchess of Sussex were 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," it said. Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is white, married in May 2018, and at the time it was heralded as a sign of a more modern monarchy.

Last year, Meghan gave birth to their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. But their relationship with the media turned sour as they struggled to deal with the intense scrutiny it brought.

There have been negative stories criticizing their use of private jets while promoting environmental causes and the 2.4 million pound (HK$24.3 million) taxpayer-funded renovation of their new home.

Harry described the treatment of his wife as "bullying," and likened it to that of his mother, Princess Diana, before her death in a Paris car accident in 1997, when her limousine crashed as it sped away from chasing paparazzi. Harry also admitted to disagreements with William, who is second in line to the throne.

Harry and Meghan did not spell out what they were planning or where in North America they might live.

Last year, it was reported that Harry would be executive producer of a documentary on mental health with US television mogul Oprah Winfrey for Apple TV.

Royal biographer Penny Junor said it is possible Meghan, who starred in TV legal drama Suits, may revive her acting career, given the demand and fees she could command.