British royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have surprised both Buckingham Palace and the public by announcing they are to step back from their roles as part of the country's royal family.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday evening, the Sussexes said: "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent."

The Sussexes' statement added that "after many months of reflection," they were "starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution [the British royal family]."

The BBC has reported that "no other royal – including the Queen or Prince William – was consulted before the statement" and quoted a Buckingham Palace spokesperson saying that the royal family was "disappointed."

The Sussexes detailed in the Instagram post that they intend to divide their time between the UK and North America.

"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," they said.

Buckingham Palace issued an official response on Wednesday, saying that: "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through."

UK tabloid newspapers have focused on the Queen's response to the news, with The Daily Mail's headline referring to her "fury" while The Sun labeled the news "Megxit."

The logistics of the Sussexes' decision have been questioned by experts – such as how the couple will fund their "financially independent" future, and their potential carbon footprint, should they frequently travel between the UK and North America.

Read more: Harry and Meghan's statement in full

On the couple's website, it says that 95 percent of their funding comes from the Duchy of Cornwall. The Duchy is the private estate of Prince Charles, Harry's father, which includes 5,300 square kilometers of land.

The Sussexes did not say in their statement if they would give up the income they receive from this estate.

The Sussexes have had a fraught relationship with the media, and struggled with their role in the spotlight. Both royals are currently engaged in legal proceedings with different British tabloid newspapers: Harry with The Sun, the Daily Mirror and the defunct News of the World over alleged phone hacking; and Meghan against The Mail on Sunday for the publication of a private letter she wrote to her father.

Harry has criticized the media's conduct towards his wife, referring to the role the press played in the treatment and eventual death of his mother Princess Diana. In October last year, he said: "My deepest fear is history repeating itself. I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person."

The couple has just returned from a trip to Canada, during which they enjoyed "warm hospitality." Meghan is from California, US, but spent time in Toronto when working as an actress.

A 'bumpy' year

The Queen, in her annual Christmas Day message, described 2019 as "quite bumpy."

The choice of words could refer to Britain's ongoing political turmoil as the country struggles to navigate its exit from the European Union, or recent news concerning the royal family.

The Sussexes are not the first members of the Queen's immediate circle to retreat from the public eye lately. In November, Prince Andrew stepped back from his public duties following a controversial interview with the BBC about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Shortly before Christmas, the Queen's husband, 98-year-old Prince Philip, was admitted to hospital for a four-night stay where he received treatment for a pre-existing health condition.