Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle appears to be taking her pursuit for independence seriously after the announcement that she and her husband Prince Harry were stepping back from their senior position in the royal family to be part-time royals.

The Duchess of Sussex is said to have inked a deal with Disney before the couple shocked the world with their royal exit plans via Instagram, according to a report from The Sunday Times, a British national newspaper.

The publication states Meghan recorded a voiceover for Disney in return for a donation to the Botswanan nonprofit Elephants Without Borders, which aims to protect the giant mammals from poaching.

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“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. 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. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.” - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex For more information, please visit sussexroyal.com (link in bio) Image © PA

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This secret recording was allegedly done before Meghan, Prince Harry and seven-month-old Archie left for a six-week-long sabbatical in Canada, which took place ahead of the Christmas holiday.

There is no news yet about how the royal couple will become financially independent, but if Meghan's voiceover work goes well, perhaps the Duchess will be able to return to acting.

The Sussex Royal website was updated to reflect how the current structure and financing arrangements impact funding and future goals. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are "prohibited from earning any income in any form" and don't benefit financially from their charitable endeavors.

Moreover, the website explains that the pair are choosing this new model because "they value the ability to earn a professional income" and that there is a precedent of other title-holding members of the royal family who earn an income from full-time jobs while supporting the monarchy.

Previous to their announcement, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received five percent of their funding for their official office through the Sovereign Grant in 2019.

Credits: foxbusiness.com