Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘entitled’ to time off says Archbishop – ‘Not superhuman!’
MEGHAN MARKLE and Prince Harry’s decision to take time off from royal duties has been backed by Archbishop Justin Welby, who said the new parents are “entitled” to the break.
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Earlier this month a royal source told The Sunday Times the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were planning a six-week pause in their work schedules from mid-November to allow for some “much-needed family time”. The timing suggests Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, want to head to the Los Angeles to meet the Duchess’s mother Doria Ragland, 63, and celebrate six-month-old Archie’s first Thanksgiving stateside. Archbishop Welby, who presided over the couple’s wedding ceremony, said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are going to take a couple of months away from royal duties.
“If you look at it as a job, they didn’t take the full allowance of leave that you’re entitled to; every person is entitled to.”
Under UK law every mother has the right to 52 weeks off after giving birth.
Meghan took four months leave after giving birth to Archie on May 6.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is said to enjoy a “close personal relationship” with the Queen’s grandson and his American wife.
He backed up the Sussexes on their desire for rest in the run up to Christmas, saying while members of the Royal Family posses good qualities they are still human.
He told The Sunday Times: “I don’t know why it should be a point of criticism that they take leave to spend time with a new baby in the way that the law provides for every single employee in this country.
“They’re not superhuman.
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“They’re a very remarkable group of people, all of them. But you can’t lay that kind of extra burden on people.”
Meghan returned from maternity leave on September 12 to attend the launch of her Smart Works capsule collection at the Oxford Street John Lewis store in London.
Just weeks later she and Harry headed to South Africa with their tot for a 10-day jam-packed tour which saw her focus heavily on charities and support groups for women and children.
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In an ITV documentary shot during the tour, Meghan revealed she had “struggled” to cope with the pressure of royal life since marrying into the royal family in May 2018.
She also confessed that she had felt “vulnerable” during her pregnancy.
After the film was broadcast on TV, a palace source told the Evening Standard that the Queen and Prince Charles had “several times reached out to Meghan”.
Ahead of their expected trip to Meghan’s country of birth, reports have suggested the couple are considering buying a home in the US which they would use as a second base.
The Sun quoted a source as saying palace aides fear a move across the pond could lead to an exit from the family.
Harry confided to ITV host Tom Bradby in the documentary that Cape Town would be “an amazing place to be able to base ourselves” but said the precarious security situation ruled out the idea.