Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just confirmed that they are stepping back from their roles as "senior royals" effectively. Now, speculations are rife that the real reason could be personal as the Duchess of Sussex might be pregnant with their second baby.
According to New Idea, Meghan sparked pregnancy rumors when she stepped out of her very first public engagement this week. She was reportedly trying to cover her stomach area with a large brown coat during her and Prince Harry's visit to the Canada House in London.
Meghan's actions did not escape the hosts of the morning show Sunrise. David Koch and Samantha Armytage said that the Duchess of Sussex appeared "to have special glow about her" for her first public appearance. They further pointed out that the way Meghan held on to her coat reminded them of how she hid her first pregnancy in 2018.
Prince Harry and Meghan were in Australia at that time for their 16-day royal tour. The Duchess of Sussex used to carry things with her to use as a prop to hide her growing baby belly. A few days into their visit, Buckingham Palace confirmed that they were expecting their first-born.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan released a statement to confirm their intention to "step back" as senior royals. They also underscored that they would like to be financially independent from the royal family's coffers.
In response, Buckingham Palace said in a statement that while they understand the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's desire to go on a different direction, this will be a complicated process that will be worked through. Insiders said that some members of the royal family are actually "hurt and disappointed" by the Sussex royals' decision.
Essentially, what Prince Harry and Meghan want is to be released from the Sovereign Grant that funds their official engagements. They want to be members of the royal family with "financial independence" and the ability to earn a professional income.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will still continue to work with official charities and duties to support Queen Elizabeth, if needed. They are still patrons of the charities assigned to them and will be spending equal times in the U.K. and North America.
In addition, Prince Harry and Meghan also wish to be removed from the royal rota of U.K. media outlets that exclusively cover royal engagements. This means that they are taking control back from the media scrutiny that comes with being a royal.
