The 700-year-old private estate delivered a £21.6 million surplus last year which Prince Charles used to fund the public,private and charitable activities of his own household and those of his two children.

It is unclear whether Harry and Meghan will continue to access those funds. A website established to explain their announcement only explicitly notes the couple will give up the Sovereign Grant.

The couple have said they will divide their time between Britain and North America.

"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition in which he was born,while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter,"the couple said.

They still want to live at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor when in the UK but that relies on approval from the Queen which has not yet been granted. The Queen only found out about the shock statement after it was released.

The country house was recently renovated at a cost of £2.4 million.

They will also continue to receive taxpayer-funded armed police protection,citing their designated status by the British Home Office as internationally protected people.

The couple married in May 2018 at Windsor Castle and had Archie in May last year.

In an interview last year,Harry also confirmed rumours of a rift with his brother William,saying the pair were on"different paths".

The Sussexes were absent from the traditional royal family Christmas celebration in Sandringham.

The decision is a major blow to the royal family,which is already dealing with thefallout from Prince Andrew's association with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and the failing health of Prince Philip.

Harry and Meghan have endured intense press scrutiny over recent years,culminating in a decision by Harryto instigate legal action against two newspapers.

"I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person,"he said at the time."I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces."

The newly launched Sussex website revealed a rewritten media policy that represents an outright rejection of the traditional way the royals have managed media access to the pair. The website says the duke and duchess will grant access to young journalists and"credible media outlets focused on objective news reporting to cover key moments and events".

They will also abandon the"pool"arrangements that allowThe Daily Express, The Daily Mail,The Daily Mirror,The Evening Standard,The Telegraph,The TimesandThe Sunexclusive access to events.

Jeff Jacobson,the co-founder of the Talent Bureau speaking agency,said the duo could each command $100,000 per appearance at events.

"I would imagine they are going to start having these conversations ASAP,if they haven't already,"Jacobson told Bloomberg."I suspect they will both get on the circuit,and it will be one of Harry's primary revenue streams."