Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is showing support for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back from royal duties.
In a rare statement, issued through Buckingham Palace, the Queen said Monday that she has agreed to a "transition period" during which her grandson Harry and his wife will divide their time between North America and the UK.
"Today, my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family," the Queen said in the statement. "My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family... 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."
The Queen added that she desired to see Harry and Meghan remain in service to the royal family, but respected the couple's plans to live a more independent life.
The statement followed a meeting during which senior members of the royal family discussed how best to proceed with a transition since the couple announced their intentions last week. The BBC reported that the meeting included the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, dropped a bombshell when they issued a statement expressing a desire to back away as "senior" members of the royal family and become financially independent.
"It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment," the Sussex's statement read. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages."
The statement brought a widespread reaction from Britain and around the world. The BBC reported that senior members of the royal family were "disappointed". The Daily Express tabloid newspaper also reported that the Queen knew little of the couple's intentions until she saw the news online.
Markle, a former actress, was born and raised in California, but she has strong personal and professional ties to Canada. The series on which she appeared as a regular, "Suits" was filmed in Toronto.