The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made headlines when they announced their decision to “step back” from their royal duties in favor of greater independence. While their desire to step away from the pressure of the royal spotlight is understandable, even commendable, the announcement reveals how fraught separation can be.  The suddenness of the declaration left the public wondering what happened and what this means for the future of the monarchy. The Queen swiftly responded that the conversation is in “early” stages. And the media was filled with stories of the royal family being “blindsided” by the news and people picking sides.  Though the British monarchy may be more famous than most family “businesses”, the issues that arise when a family member decides to leave the business are not unique.