Harry and Meghan shocked Queen Elizabeth and the other Windsors in January by announcing plans step back from their royal roles. A later deal brokered by the 93-year-old monarch means they will go their own way from April.

From Wednesday, the couple, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will be free to pursue new careers, earn their own money and spend most of their time in North America.

But they will no longer be able to use the word "royal" in their branding or carry out official duties and have agreed not to use the style of HRH - His or Her Royal Highness.

Harry, 35, who is sixth in line to the throne, will remain a prince but relinquish his military appointments.

The couple signed off from their life officially supporting the Queen with a final post on their Instagram account, which will now remain inactive along with their website.

"As we can all feel, the world at this moment seems extraordinarily fragile," the duke and duchess said.

"Yet we are confident that every human being has the potential and opportunity to make a difference - as seen now across the globe, in our families, our communities and those on the front line - together we can lift each other up to realise the fullness of that promise.

"As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute."

Harry and Meghan, a former actress, married in a lavish ceremony in May 2018. Their son, Archie, was born a year later but by then relations with the media and with Harry's elder brother, Prince William, had become strained, and in January they announced plans to step back from their royal roles.

It provoked a crisis and in a subsequent deal thrashed out with the Queen, her son and heir Prince Charles and William, it was agreed the couple would have to give up their royal jobs altogether.

Their last public appearance came this month when they joined other senior royals at the annual Commonwealth Day service in London.

After that they returned to Canada and a royal source confirmed they had now moved to the Los Angeles area.

Meghan, 38, who starred in TV legal drama Suits, was raised in the area and her mother, Doria Ragland, still lives there.

Harry and Meghan were forced to disclose they had put in place "privately funded security arrangements" for their move to the US after President Donald Trump said his country would not pay for their protection.

Meghan's first post-royal job will be to narrate a nature documentary Elephant for Disney.

Australian Associated Press