In the end, the Sussexes decided it was not necessary for her to join the discussion, the source said.
The meeting was held at the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, some 100 miles north of London, and Meghan is currently in Canada, with the couple's baby son Archie.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Queen said the family would have preferred the couple to "remain full-time working members of the royal family," but that they "respect and understand" Harry and Meghan's "wish to live a more independent life."
The Queen has agreed to a "period of transition" while details of their new role are hammered out, the family announced.
Harry and Meghan will spend time in both the UK and Canada during this period. The couple revealed last week that they wish to step down as senior British royals and live part-time in North America.
The Queen said she had agreed that Harry and Meghan could split their time between the UK and Canada but that "complex matters" would have to be resolved. The monarch added that she had ordered final plans to be drawn up in the next few days.
Queen Elizabeth II on Monday agreed to a "period of transition" while details of a more "independent" role for Harry and Meghan are hammered out. They will spend time in both the UK and Canada during this period.
Trudeau told a Canadian television station Monday that: "...there are still a lot of decisions to be taken by the royal family, by the Sussexes themselves, as to what level of engagement they choose to have and these are things that we are obviously supportive of their reflections, but have responsibilities in that as well."
Trudeau added: "That is part of the reflection that needs to be had and there are discussions going on."
Harry and Meghan say they have a "strong connection to Canada," and they spent the Christmas holidays there with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. The duchess is currently in the country with the couple's baby son, Archie.
Trudeau said Monday that "there is a general feeling of appreciation for the Sussexes" in Canada, but talks continue as to the exact arrangements.
"We are not entirely sure what the final decisions will be, what the dispositions are and those are the decisions for them. I think most Canadians are very supportive of having royals here, but how that looks and what kind of cost is involved, there are still lots of discussions to be had," he said.
After a crisis meeting of senior royals Monday, the Queen said she had agreed that Prince Harry and Meghan could split their time between the UK and Canada but that "complex matters" would have to be resolved.
OTTAWA — Queen Elizabeth II may have blessed plans by Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, to become part-time residents of Canada, but the monarch’s status as the country’s formal head of state doesn’t mean the couple can expect any special treatment on many fronts.
When it comes to immigration, taxation and even what they call themselves, Harry and Meghan will be no different than any other newcomers to Canada.
But one area where they could receive unique consideration is their personal security.
The couple, known formally as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have offered little detail about their plans, including where they intend to live in Canada, how much of their time they will spend in the country and how they plan to become independent of funds set aside by Britain for its royals.
But when they do make their move, the duke and duchess won’t get a V.I.P. pass through immigration.
“There are no provisions in the Citizenship Act that confer Canadian citizenship status to members of the royal family,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a government department, said in a statement. “In order to become legal permanent residents of Canada, they would need to apply through our normal immigration processes. However, members of the royal family are not required to seek authorization to come to and stay in Canada as visitors.”
There was widespread speculation in Canada’s immigration community that the couple would be just visiting rather than calling Canada home to avoid a number of complexities.
“I doubt very much they would apply for permanent residency,” said Sergio R. Karas, an immigration lawyer in Toronto. “That would not be a good option for them.”
As visitors, the couple can remain in Canada for up to six months without any sort of special visa. The catch, however, is they wouldn’t be able to work in the country, where coins and $20 bills bear likenesses of the queen, if that is indeed part of their financial freedom plan.
Helen Park, an immigration lawyer with the Dentons law firm in Vancouver, British Columbia, said that while they couldn’t seek employment, they could manage businesses based outside Canada while there as visitors.
But if they decide to become residents of Canada with the right to work in the country, there are several possible channels the couple could explore of varying difficulty and plausibility.
The easiest, but perhaps least likely, avenue would be for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s immigration minister to grant them residency on “compassionate grounds.”
“But is Harry going to say, ‘My grandmother is chasing me out of England’?” Mr. Karas said.
The government, Ms. Park said, could also declare them to be people of significant economic social or cultural benefit to Canada — a measure commonly used for prominent artists or literary figures.
Either form of queue cutting might prompt a political backlash.
While Canada is generally welcoming to immigrants, the process is expensive and time-consuming. As a result, many recent immigrants might resent any jumping in line by the royal couple. A large percentage of new Canadians include people from places like India, where the British monarchy is still strongly associated with colonial repression and is deeply unpopular.
Meghan’s past life in Canada could, in theory, also provide the couple a way into Canada as residents. An American, she lived in Toronto for several years while filming the American television legal drama “Suits,” when she was known as Meghan Markle. While her immigration status during that time is not public information, Canada has a special visa provision for actors working on foreign film and television productions in the country.
Ms. Park said that some of her actor clients had used their time in the country to obtain residency. If — and Ms. Park noted that it’s a big if — Meghan took that step, she could then sponsor Harry for residency.
Regardless of their immigration status, the couple may face tax issues in Canada. Heather L. Evans, the executive director of the Canadian Tax Foundation, a research group, said there was no hard and fast rule for determining who is a resident for tax purposes. Instead, she said, “individual facts and circumstances are important, especially in cases of dual residents.”
Courts, she said, have found that in some cases, people who spend less than half of the year in Canada are still residents for taxation purposes.
Conrad M. Black, the former press baron, had to give up his Canadian citizenship to become Baron Black of Crossharbour. There is, however, no precedent for how the resolution, which some argue is of limited legal force, would apply to a member of the royal family moving to Canada.
In a country where there is sometimes grousing about the cost of security for the prime minister, the question of who will pay to protect Harry, Meghan and their son, Archie, has been widely raised. On Monday, Mr. Trudeau said that was one of many questions that remain to be resolved.
“We are obviously supportive of their reflections but have responsibilities in that as well,” he said, referring to security. “We’re not entirely sure what the final decisions will be.”
Currently, Canada covers the cost of the security provided to the couple by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police because Harry and Meghan’s official status in Britain makes them “internationally protected persons” under Canadian law. Kent Roach, a professor of law at the University of Toronto, said that after withdrawing from official life, Meghan and Harry would lose that status.
But citing news media estimates that their annual security cost will be about 2 million Canadian dollars, or about $1.5 million, Mr. Roach anticipates that the government-funded guard will remain.
“Strict legal definitions will in the end not matter that much in this matter, especially if the cost of protection is, as reported, less than $2 million,” he said. “Canada has received that much worth in good press already.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can still lay claim to the Sussex Royal brand across the pond -- despite the "Megxit" -- but here in the U.S. of A, someone's already calling dibs!!!
You might've heard the Duke and Duchess of Sussex filed trademark docs in the UK to use the phrase "Sussex Royal" for possible merch in the future -- including possible online sales on their recently launched site of the same name.
Doesn't look like anyone's fighting 'em for the brand in England, but it ain't gonna be so easy for 'em stateside thanks to a guy named Joel Fogelson ... who's already filed an application to own "Sussex Royal" in America.
Now, frankly, this could get complicated for Joel if he was dead set on keeping it because it's their name, after all. However, he tells us he only filed for it on digital platforms because he saw it was available, and simply couldn't believe it.
Not so shockingly, Joel's background is in intellectual property -- but he's not looking to hold on to the obviously valuable trademark. He says he'd happily hand it over to the Duke and Duchess if they want it ... for FREE even.
He's looking at this as a valuable lesson for Harry and Meghan to pay attention to details, to avoid just a massive oversight. Then again, they've had their hands full lately plotting their now-Queen supported bombshell move.
That said, he also tells us IF Meg and Harry don't come knocking ... he'll use "Sussex Royal" to launch a consulting business touting the importance of having a solid business plan.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex gesture during their visit to Canada House in thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada, on January 7, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WPA Pool
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, might have won the approval of the queen to move to Canada, but the country's prime minister said there are "still lots of discussions to have" over the plans.
Speaking to Canadian television network Global News on Monday, Justin Trudeau said there were still details to iron, both in the U.K. and Canada, including security costs.
"There are still a lot of decisions to be taken by the Royal Family, by the Sussexes themselves as to what level of engagement they choose to have," Trudeau said. "We are obviously supportive of their reflections but have responsibilities in that as well."
"We're not entirely sure what the final decisions will be," he added. Trudeau said the federal government had not been consulted about the move up until now and that the costs would have to be assessed.
"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," Trudeau said. "There is a general feeling of appreciation for the Sussexes."
Royal showdown
Trudeau's comments came after a royal showdown Monday afternoon with senior royals gathered in the queen's Norfolk estate, Sandringham, to discuss Meghan and Harry's shock announcement last week that they were to step back from their positions as "senior royals." The couple want to work to become financially independent and split their time between the U.K. and Canada.
Harry had face-to-face talks with the queen, Prince Charles and Prince William with Meghan reportedly joining the discussions by phone from Canada.
"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," the statement noted, adding: "It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the U.K."
Details over how the couple will achieve financial autonomy and who will foot the bill for their security retinue are still unclear. The queen ended her statement noting that there were "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."
The couple had spent Christmas on Vancouver Island and Meghan, who has previously lived in Canada, is now reportedly back in British Columbia with the couple's son, Archie.
Further talks are needed over the costs of security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's move to Canada, the country's prime minister has said.
Justin Trudeau said the funding and shape of the plans are to be discussed.
The Queen has agreed a "period of transition" in which Prince Harry and Meghan will be in Canada and the UK.
She said she was "entirely supportive" of their desire for a new role but "would have preferred" them to remain full-time working royals.
In a statement following talks at Sandringham, the Queen's residence in Norfolk, on Monday involving senior royals, the Queen said she expected final decisions to be made in the coming days.
Prince Harry and Meghan have announced they wanted "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family" and divide their time between the UK and North America.
But there have been questions over who would fund their security.
Mr Trudeau said most Canadians are "very supportive" of having royals live there, but there are "still lots of discussions to have" over "how that looks and what kind of costs are involved".
He said the federal Canadian government had not been involved "up until this point" about what the couple's move to the country will involve.
Speaking to Global News, a Canadian television network, he added: "There are still a lot of decisions to be taken by the Royal Family, by the Sussexes themselves, as to what level of engagement they choose to have.
"We are obviously supportive of their reflections but have responsibilities in that as well."
Earlier the Queen said the talks at Sandringham which also involved the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, had been "very constructive".
"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family," she said.
"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."
She said it had been agreed there would be "a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK" after Harry and Meghan "made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives".
The urgent talks were convened after the Sussexes surprised the rest of the Royal Family last week with their statement.
They also said they wanted a "progressive new role" within the institution, where they would be financially independent.
This is a remarkably candid and informal, almost personal, statement from the Queen.
Her regret over Harry and Meghan's move is obvious - she would have preferred them to stay in their current roles.
But she also makes clear that they are still royals and that they will be valued in the family as they become a more independent couple.
There are buckets of questions outstanding - on their future royal role, their relationship with the rest of the Palace, on who will pay what (not, the Queen says, the taxpayer), and on how Harry and Meghan will support themselves.
There's still a lot to thrash out and to agree on. Not all of it may become public.
And it looks like the Queen sees this as a process, not an event. She writes of a transition period when Harry and Meghan divide their time between Canada and the UK.
The Queen has asked for decisions to be made over the next few days. But those decisions may well be up for review in the coming months and years.
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The 92nd Oscar nominations are being announced this morning beginning at 8:18 AM ET/5:18 AM PT. Nominees in all 24 categories highlighting the year’s best in film will be revealed in a global live presentation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
You can watch the nominations above and stay with Deadline all day for news, analysis and more.
The Academy will also stream this morning’s noms on Oscar.com, Oscars.org and its digital platforms on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. Follow along with the hashtags #OscarNoms and #Oscars.
The noms will be rolled out in two parts, beginning at 5:18 PT with the following nine categories (in no particular order): Actor in a Supporting Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Film Editing, Original Score, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound Editing and Sound Mixing.
After a break, the remainder of the categories will be announced at 5:30 AM PT (in no particular order): Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Leading Role, Animated Feature Film, Cinematography, Directing, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Song, Best Picture, Production Design, Visual Effects, Adapted Screenplay and Original Screenplay.
Among the films expected to be in the mix this morning as the awards race hits high gear: Universal’s World War I epic 1917, Netflix’s Martin Scorsese pic The Irishman and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, Sony’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood from Quentin Tarantino and Little Women from Greta Gerwig, Fox Searchlight’s Jojo Rabbit, 20th Century Fox’s Ford v Ferrari, Warner Bros’ Joker and Bong Joon Ho’s Korean pic Parasite from Neon which has a shot at crossing over from the International Feature race where it is a favorite.
After today’s noms are unveiled, final Oscar voting kicks off January 30 and ends February 4 at 5 PM PT. The once-again-hostless 92nd Academy Awards are February 9 at the Dolby Theater at Hollywood & Highland.
