Waxwork museum, Madame Tussauds has removed figures of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, from its royal family display in London. 

The decision to remove their figures comes after the couple shocked the world by announcing they will be stepping back as ‘senior royals’, as they intend to become ‘financially independent’ and split their time between the UK and North America.

On Thursday, the waxworks which were unveiled in May 2018, ahead of the couple’s lavish wedding in Windsor, England, were removed by the wax museum’s staff. But that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William, and Catherine, remain on display alongside figures of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip.

Steve Davies, general manager of the London museum, told the Evening Standard that Harry and Meghan’s wax figures would no longer appear in the royal family display.

“As two of our most popular and well-loved figures they will, of course, remain an important feature at Madame Tussauds London as we watch to see what the next chapter holds for them,” he said.

“Alongside the rest of the world we are reacting to the surprising news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be stepping back as senior royals,” Steve Davies, general manager of Madame Tussauds London, told the Independent on Thursday.

“From today Meghan and Harry’s figures will no longer appear in our royal family set,” he confirmed after photos began to circulate on social media of empty space in the royal family display.

Davies also went on to reveal that the mannequins would remain inside the museum elsewhere.

“As two of our most popular and well-loved figures, they will, of course, remain an important feature at Madame Tussauds London as we watch to see what the next chapter holds for them,” he said.