Harry did not anticipate the Queen's reaction.

"I think Harry and Meghan may have been shocked to see the Queen handle the issue in such a tough way," said Penny Junor, a royal researcher for more than 35 years.

On January 9, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan unexpectedly announced their retirement from senior royal roles and the creation of a new charity. After a family meeting four days later, Queen Elizabeth agreed to let Harry and his wife leave the royal family.

Buckingham Palace announced that Harry and Meghan will no longer carry their royal titles or participate in official activities, and will no longer represent Queen Elizabeth II at events. Prince Harry must step down from all military roles. Although they will retain their titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it is unclear whether Harry and Meghan will continue to function as SussexRoyal. Some experts believe that the brand could earn them millions of dollars.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a British royal commentator, described losing his military connections as "difficult" for Harry, who served twice in Afghanistan.

Harry and his wife must repay the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, worth more than 3.1 million USD. They also have to pay rent to the Royal family when they move in in the future.

"This is a form of exile, Harry has expressed his sadness but things will be reviewed after a year," Fitzwilliams said.

On January 19, Harry said he and his wife hoped to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth and military organizations without public support. However, that was not possible.

Fitzwilliams said Harry and Meghan's announcement of their withdrawal from the British Royal Family without informing senior members, including the Queen, was "irresponsible".

Both Fitzwilliams and Junor said Harry and Meghan's desire for a "part-time royal life" was unrealistic.

Junor believes that Harry and Meghan's departure will have a major impact on the British Royal Family. The two are considered "valuable assets" of the Royal Family, the golden couple. Harry was "the most beloved member" for a long time, after the Queen. Prince Charles, Harry's father, is planning to shrink the monarchy in the future, in which his two sons and their families will be a large part of that model.

When Harry and Meghan step down from the Royal Family, the remaining members (Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince William and Duchess Kate) will have to take on more responsibilities. Fewer members of the Royal Family will be raising funds for charities under the Royal patronage. Therefore, charities will be left out.

Analyst Fitzwilliams expressed regret. He said that the monarchy needed someone who could bring innovation like Meghan, an active social activist. Harry and Meghan's departure caused the Royal Family to temporarily lose the love of the people but it is unlikely to cause long-term damage.

The monarchy is an important part of British life. The remaining monarchy consists of the core group of the Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, his wife and their children. "They should maintain the support of the people, as a united nation, in a country that is divided by Brexit," Fitzwilliams suggested, referring to Britain's impending departure from the European Union (EU).

Junor said that when the Queen allowed Harry and Meghan to keep their royal titles, the door was open. They could return in the future. If Harry and his wife left feeling hurt or angry, they would cause damage to the royal family.

“Whether they lost more than they gained is debatable,” Junor said.