Meghan Markle and Prince Harry hope to take a step away from ‘senior royal’ life, it was revealed in a bombshell announced last week. While Prince Harry remains in the UK for crunch talks on their future, Meghan has returned to Canada where the Duchess has been spotted out and about visiting the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre in Vancouver.
She visited to discuss “issues affecting women in the community”, and the shelter posted a photograph on its Facebook page of Meghan at the centre of a group of eight women.
The caption of the heartwarming image read: “Look who we had tea with today!
“The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, visited us today to discuss issues affecting women in the community.”
The intricacies of Meghan and Harry’s withdrawal from the Royal Family as senior members are still to be discussed, with finances, security and the extent of their involvement in royal duties.
Read More: Meghan Markle fury: Duchess and Harry ‘not welcome’ - Canada to couple
With the couple opting to split their time “between the United Kingdom and North America” this could throw up an issue for Meghan.
Depending on how much time the Duke and Duchess spend outside of the UK, Meghan’s citizenship may be in question.
As a Brit, Prince Harry is entitled to spend up to six months a year as a visitor in Canada - but will need a visa for anything longer than that.
As an American citizen, the same rules apply for Meghan - but a prolonged stay in Canada could cause problems should she wish to obtain British citizenship.
Under law, Meghan would have to apply for a family visa to remain in the UK.
And to get citizenship, she must also meet a number of important criteria.
For Meghan to apply to be a British citizen, Harry must meet a minimum income threshold of £18,600 a year, or have cash savings above £16,000.
Meghan must also have spent no more than 270 days outside the UK in the past three years.
And she would need to take a test with questions on life in the UK, costing £50.
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The royal couple may choose to spend less time abroad and more in the UK for Meghan to adhere to the requirements for British Citizenship.
This would mean any money the Sussexes make in Canada would be subject to British tax.
However, if they look to be permanent residents or spend 183 days in a tax year in the country, Canada will recognise the couple as residents for tax purposes.
All this is not yet clear and is sure to be on the agenda for senior royals to discuss.
Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau said the costs, and what role they will play in Canadian life, would be the subject of future discussions.
Asked during an interview with Global News on Monday whether Canadian taxpayers would have to pay he replied: “That is part of the reflection that needs to be had and there are discussions going on.
“We’re not entirely sure what the final decisions will be, what the dispositions are and those are decisions for them.
“I think most Canadians are very supportive of having royals be here, but how that looks and what kind of costs are involved, there are still lots of discussions to have.”
On Monday, the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry met to discuss the Sussexes wishes to step back from their roles.
Meghan was not at the royal summit at Sandringham with the Queen and senior royals, instead, Prince Harry put forward their case for a new independent life.
A source told PA: “In the end, the Sussexes decided that it wasn’t necessary for the Duchess to join.”
Afterwards, the Queen released a statement which read: “Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.
“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.
“Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.
“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.
“It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.
“These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”
On Thursday, Harry will carry out his first engagement since the start of the crisis, when he will host the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws for the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments at the palace.
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