Prince Harry and wife Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have announced that they are to ‘step back’ as senior members of the Royal family in a move that has shocked the nation.

Prince Harry and Meghan have announced that they will be working to become financially independent, but will continue to "fully support" the Queen and the monarchy.

The move has prompted speculation that the couple are looking to relocate to Canada.

Prince Harry, who served with the Army Air Corps at RAF Wattisham between 2011 and 2014, has received criticism for reportedly not informing the monarchy before announcing the family's decision in a statement.

The announcement has had a mixed reaction, with some supporters claiming the tabloid press' treatment of the pair has influenced the move, and others posing questions about how they will support themselves.

View this post on Instagram

'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

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on

It has also led to questions about the prominent role of the Royal family in modern society.

Californian-born Meghan, who genealogy experts Ancestry believe has Royal ancestors in East Anglia - with her 15th great grandfather believed to be English knight Sir Philip Wentworth, has been particularly vocal about the pressure she has been under since marrying the Prince and giving birth to their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

How do you feel about the decision? Do you support the young family? Vote in our poll and share your views on our social media feeds.