She said the royal family ‘had very constructive discussions’ on the future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and it has been agreed ‘that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK’.

The royal family ‘respect and understand’ their desire for a ‘new life’, she said.

Discussions were ‘complex matters’ for her family to resolve but she wanted ‘final decisions’ in the ‘coming days’, the head of state said.

She said: ‘Though 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.’

It comes after Prince Harry sat down with the Queen, his brother Prince William and father Prince Charles today to thrash out plans for his future with Meghan and Archie.

The historic meeting at the Queen’s private estate was the first time Harry met with senior royals since issuing his bombshell statement last week.

It was believed Meghan could join talks over the phone as she is currently in Canada with the couple’s baby Archie.

The duchess flew back a few days ago after the family spent an extended break over Christmas in British Columbia.

It is unusual for the Queen to issue a statement in her own name like she did today – when not paying condolences after the death of a foreign head of state or sympathising following a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

And the formal titles of the couple – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – were not used by the monarch.