Queen OKs Prince Harry and Meghan's decision to 'create a new life'

The Queen has backed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following a crisis summit about their future roles, saying the royal family "respect and understand" their desire to step back as senior royals.

Report notes, citing the Independent, that, in a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II said: "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."

"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," she said.

Urgent talks were convened after the Sussexes surprised the rest of the Royal Family on Wednesday with a statement expressing their desire to "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family".

They also said they wanted a "progressive new role" within the institution, where they would be financially independent and divide their time between the UK and North America.