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Prince Harry makes 'symbolic' departure to join Meghan Markle in Canada

The prince and his wife are quitting the British monarchy.

PRINCE HARRY HAS reportedly left for Canada to be reunited with his wife and son as his brother Prince William continues with a busy schedule of royal duties.

Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are bowing out entirely from representing the British monarchy, in a crisis that has shaken the centuries-old institution.

The prince boarded an evening flight to Vancouver after attending a UK-Africa investment summit in London, in what is expected to be one of his final official engagements as a working royal, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The departure “will be deemed symbolic, coming just two days after Buckingham Palace announced that it was severing all official ties with the Sussexes as they walk away from public life,” the Telegraph said. 

The prince and his former actress wife have struggled with the scrutiny since their wedding in May 2018 and the 35-year-old said there was no alternative to stepping back from front-line royal duties to achieve “a more peaceful life”.

Harry, who remains sixth in line to the throne, also had an informal 20-minute private meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday. 

Johnson has said the whole country would want wish the prince and his wife all the best for the future.

Johnny Hornby, chairman of Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Harry and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso, said the prince had indicated the solution was not something he “ideally” wanted.

Asked if it mattered to the Africa-based charity, which supports youngsters living with HIV, if Harry was royal or had a title, Hornby told Radio 4’s Today programme: “No, I don’t think it matters at all.

“I think he has a kind of unique ability and an aura around him when he’s with children, when he’s with any gathering, I think his passion comes over.

“We don’t need from Sentebale’s perspective his title, we just need his time and his passion and he’s committed to give us that.”

Harry and Meghan had wanted to remain as working royals, although not prominent members, and drop their public funding so they could become financially independent – a dual role many commentators said was fraught with problems.

Critics have accused the couple of turning their backs on the monarchy to enjoy the freedom of being able to take on commercial ventures.

In the Sentebale speech, Harry told invited guests: “What I want to make clear is we’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you.

“Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”

Contains reporting from - © AFP 2020 

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    Mute jerry slattery
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    Jan 21st 2020, 7:44 AM

    Symbolic….He took a flight like everyone else does which I presume was 1st class and to hell with the carbon footprint end of things

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    Mute Ebeneezer Goode
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    Jan 21st 2020, 7:49 AM

    @jerry slattery: Do you row a boat when you’re travelling over 3,000 miles?

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    Mute jerry slattery
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    Jan 21st 2020, 7:56 AM

    @Ebeneezer Goode: Gretta did

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    Mute paul kelly
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    Jan 21st 2020, 7:59 AM

    @jerry slattery: Do you?

    103
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    Mute John Moylan
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:21 AM

    @jerry slattery: no, she got a €1.5m carbon fibre yacht. ….that also has a diesel engine backup. Hypocrisy central.

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    Mute Ronan Fahy
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:29 AM

    @jerry slattery: and flew home I believe?

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    Mute Fred the Muss
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:45 AM

    @jerry slattery: and the crew Thant were to take the boat back flew to NY.

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:48 AM

    @Ronan Fahy: no she also sailed back.

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    Mute 523StarBar
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:50 AM

    @jerry slattery: gretas crew flew.. just like when she was photographed on the floor of a German train and her crew were in first class waiting for her to join them.

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    Mute Thomas Harrington
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    Jan 21st 2020, 10:09 AM

    @John Moylan: No that’s called

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    Mute Thomas Harrington
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    Jan 21st 2020, 10:10 AM

    @John Moylan: No that’s called safety would you cross the Atlantic without engine back up?

    25
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    Mute Robbie Curran
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    Jan 21st 2020, 10:41 AM

    @jerry slattery: is there less of a footprint if he sat in the back of the plane with us commoners?

    16
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    Mute jerry slattery
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    Jan 21st 2020, 11:13 AM

    @Robbie Curran: yes

    9
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    Mute Mike Moran
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    Jan 21st 2020, 11:38 AM

    @jerry slattery: Yes she did, but also failed to mention that there was about a half dozen Diesel powered vessels pumping Co2 out supporting her.
    Hypocrisy of the highest order.

    23
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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Jan 21st 2020, 12:08 PM

    @jerry slattery: Ya but they used fog machines and lights and had One direction singing a slowed down version of I’m leaving on a jet plane. It was very emotional.

    9
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    Mute Padjii
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    Jan 21st 2020, 1:01 PM

    @Mike Moran: FYI Mike it’s yourself (and plants, at night time) that’s pumping out the CO2. The Diesel powered vessels are pumping CO, the mono version.

    2
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    Mute pat seery
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    Jan 21st 2020, 4:11 PM

    @jerry slattery: if she did at what cost and who footed the bill

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:53 PM

    @Ebeneezer Goode: well I don’t but then I don’t lecture others about doing same…

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    Mute D'oh
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:07 PM

    @jerry slattery: Virtue signal much?

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Jan 21st 2020, 7:50 AM

    The very best of luck to them!

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    Mute Sea Graham
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    Jan 21st 2020, 7:54 AM

    If they could depart the media coverage that would be great.

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    Mute Ciara McCorley
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:16 AM

    He’s a mug, she has him right under the thumb. Funny how when they were on a 6 week holiday not a single picture of them emerged in the media, now all of a sudden there’s pictures of her walking her dogs in a park 2 miles from her mansion (which has massive grounds, why would she need to go to a park?) All a set up, she’s tipping the media off and giving them her whereabouts ….. and someone really should show her how to hold her baby, it looks like she’s going to drop him all the time!

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    Mute Butterfly
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    Jan 21st 2020, 10:45 AM

    Comments like this on media is what they need to get away from. I’ve lived on Vancouver Island. And all the parks are beautiful there. Why shouldn’t she walk her dog there!!

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    Mute KB
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    Jan 21st 2020, 1:58 PM

    @Ciara McCorley: you hit the nail on the head. Too many mugs around these days. Maybe, just maybe, the plan to emigrate was his idea!

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    Mute Ciara McCorley
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    Jan 21st 2020, 3:31 PM

    @Butterfly: she “despises” the media and craves privacy, is currently staying in a mansion with acres of land…… no chance of her getting photographed there as we’ve seen over the past few months…. and she chooses to walk her dogs in a public park? Doesn’t sound very like someone who is trying to get away from the media!

    8
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    Mute Del Bear
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    Jan 21st 2020, 7:46 PM

    @Ciara McCorley: Jaysus do you fancy Harry or something, is that it? Not a huge fan of hers or anything but don’t understand all the vitriol towards her..so much actual sh*te going on in tbe world and plenty of despicable people to direct it towards but instead everyone is piling on a woman whos only crime as i can see was to marry someone from a higher social class. I really do think she loves Harry but even if she is a social climber, its hardly the crime of the century.

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:56 PM

    @Ciara McCorley: absolutely agree, if they don’t want to be photographed then this can absolutely be arranged, no problem!

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    Mute Shelley Byrne
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:35 PM

    @Ciara McCorley: sour grapes.
    Leave them alone. They’re a couple and decided as a couple

    4
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    Mute 523StarBar
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    Jan 21st 2020, 7:51 AM

    Andrew who? The police refuse to release Andrews whereabouts on the night he is accused ..

    115
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    Mute Da Vid
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:24 AM

    The poor pets. Only £2 million a year to live off of for being Prince Charles son. Looking at €30 million houses in Canada. All this media attention on them all the while the nonce, Prince Andrew slips away unoticed..

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:08 AM

    Harry is about to find out who his real friends are and that itself is priceless.

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    Mute C_O'S
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:06 AM

    Freedrom. Your mum would be so proud of you taking this step. The hills are alive way up in the Rockies Hope you get to build up a lovely relationship now with your real Dad who was silenced for decades by the crown.

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    Mute JohnnyMc
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:10 AM

    @C_O’S: mum?

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    Mute Da Vid
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:25 AM

    @C_O’S: Clearly James Hewitts son.

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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Jan 21st 2020, 12:20 PM

    @Da Vid: An unfounded and disgusting comment .

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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Jan 23rd 2020, 1:15 AM

    @JohnnyMc: Yep….notions

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    Mute Christina Colling
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:58 AM

    Kind of fed up of reading and hearing about them at this stage. Go live your life and I hope it goes the way you intend. If you want to live your life away from the media,I dont think the.media will let you. But best of luck anyway

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    Mute Pen Name
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    Jan 21st 2020, 2:38 PM

    @Christina Colling: Yes, it’s getting tired now. They’re gone but the story’s still running.

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    Mute Paul
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    Jan 21st 2020, 10:07 AM

    Why Canada? If he/they are so committed to helping children on the African continent then maybe they should have relocated there.

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    Mute Jazz Buckler
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:05 AM

    He cares so much about Africa he goes on hunting safaris shooting lions and posing for photos with their slain corpses…

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    Mute Ahjaysis
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:09 AM

    @Jazz Buckler: No way! Have you a link??

    41
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    Mute Doz
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:43 AM

    @Jazz Buckler: Have you a source for this information?

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    Mute Fred the Muss
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:47 AM

    @Jazz Buckler: No links because you are talking through your ass.

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    Mute Da Vid
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:56 AM
    24
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    Mute Da Vid
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:56 AM

    @Fred the Muss: you must not have any fingers that you can’t find links yourself.

    15
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    Mute Who cares?
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:15 AM

    @Da Vid: that’s a funny looking lion!

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    Mute Michael Evans
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:24 AM

    @Da Vid: It was taken 16 years ago for god sake. People are allowed to make mistakes, grow and mature and change their views.

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    Mute Da Vid
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:33 AM

    @Michael Evans: oh.. here we go. “It was taken 16 years ago waa waa waaa”. Would ya do one!

    17
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    Mute Charles Cunningham
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:49 AM

    @Jazz Buckler: Buffaloe are shot regularly and provide good meat for the locals, he DID not shoot any lions.

    24
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    Mute Ahjaysis
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    Jan 21st 2020, 10:07 AM

    @Da Vid: So lions in Africa ended up being a water buffalo in Argentina! We rare this claim as: false.

    28
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    Mute Tim McCormack29
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    Jan 21st 2020, 11:56 AM

    Royalty should never marry an actor… They should marry only equals who understand the position they will hold after marriage..

    27
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    Mute Sean Fahey
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    Jan 21st 2020, 3:26 PM

    I admire his courage, that’s a bold move to renounce a birth right to power and fortune, I hope he sees out his days in a remote cabin in Canada, living in peace and happiness, although I doubt it and fully expect this all to end up on Jeremy Kyle.

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    Mute Eddie Benson
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    Jan 21st 2020, 10:21 AM

    Because its a beautiful country with very nice people.

    19
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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Jan 21st 2020, 9:37 AM

    Asylum seeker

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    Mute Liam Lally
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    Jan 21st 2020, 10:12 AM

    Why Canada ?

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    Mute BewaretheBeardies
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    Jan 21st 2020, 5:05 PM

    @Liam Lally: They are big southpark fans.

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    Mute TJC Mc
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    Jan 21st 2020, 8:33 AM

    GO AWAY WITH THAT RUBBISH FOR NEWS!

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    Mute Paul Riordan
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    Jan 21st 2020, 4:17 PM

    How loud can I yawn

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