The most surprising detail of the Queen's final statement on Harry and Meghan's royal exit

On this day last year, Queen Elizabeth II put an end to days of speculation with her final statement about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's proposed royal exit.

On January 8, 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stunned the world — not to mention the royal family — by declaring their intention to resign as working royals.

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Five days later, Harry convened with the Queen and her heirs Prince Charles and Prince William at the Sandringham Estate to discuss the terms of the departure, with Meghan joining the meeting via video from Canada.

By January 18, talk of how the Sussexes' proposed working model was likely to have been received by the royals, particularly the Queen, was at fever pitch.

Buckingham Palace released a statement on the monarch's behalf, in which she confirmed a "constructive and supportive way forward" for the couple had been settled on.

However, what was most surprising about the message was the personal language Her Majesty used to convey it.

Rather than the very official 'royalese' the public is accustomed to, the statement read like one written by a grandmother about her beloved grandson.

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The monarch took the rare step of referring to Harry and Meghan by their first names, rather than their royal titles, with plenty of references to her family throughout.

"I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," the Queen began.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family."

Her Majesty also acknowledged the "challenges" the duke and duchess had faced as a result of "intense scrutiny" in the years since their 2018 royal wedding.

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"[I] support their wish for a more independent life," she added.

In a particularly touching gesture, the Queen also praised Meghan for her efforts in embracing royal life.

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"I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family," the statement read.

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"It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life."

It was one of the more personal statements the Queen has made during her history-making reign.

In turn, Harry and Meghan responded with a statement expressing their gratitude for the Queen and family's "ongoing support" during the royal exit discussions.

The couple also outlined some of the finer details of the agreement, which came into effect on April 1, 2020.

"With The Queen's blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations," the statement read.

"While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty."