By Peter Hunt BBC deputy royal correspondent

The announcement was significant, without warning - but probably inevitable.

The Earl of Wessex waited until the end of a 15-minute speech in Weston-super-Mare to make public the couple's private deliberations.

For several years now they have struggled unsuccessfully to combine high profile jobs in television and public relations with royal duties.

Both careers had their difficulties.

University row

Last year the Countess of Wessex was recorded making indiscreet remarks about several public figures by an undercover tabloid reporter.

Then for good measure she gave a newspaper interview in which she spoke about her husband's sexuality.

The couple have their Bagshot Park mansion to maintain

Later the same year the Earl of Wessex had to apologise after a row about filming at Prince William's university.

All other media organisations had left the town in accordance with an unwritten gentleman's agreement, the television production company with royal connections stayed on.

Prince Charles was said to be incandescent with rage.

These embarrassing episodes opened the couple up to accusations that they were exploiting their positions for commercial gain.

People questioned whether such high profile jobs were compatible with their royal status.

After some reflection the couple have clearly decided they are not.

Good causes

The timing of this announcement is astute.

A Golden Jubilee year, with events all over the country and royals in demand, is a good time to launch yourself as a full-time royal.

This is what Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex have become.

During the next few months they will extract themselves from their respective businesses, and will devote more time to charitable work.

The Palace will be on the look out for good causes for Sophie Wessex to champion.

Prince Edward will gradually add to his list of organisations, which includes the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the Commonwealth Games and the National Youth Orchestra.

In the search for lessons to be learnt from this bruising foray into the commercial world by two young royals, it would be wrong to conclude that work and royalty is incompatible.

Renaissance hopes

Others, including Viscount Linley with his furniture business, have succeeded where Edward and Sophie failed.

It is the nature of the career and the way it was conducted, not having a career, that was the problem.

The Queen has always stood by her youngest son - from his abortive career in the Marines, through the disastrous It's A Royal Knockout, to this.

Such loyalty will come at a price. She already funds the Wessexes to the tune of �141,000.

With no salaries and a sprawling mansion to maintain, this amount is bound to increase.

Friends of the pair will be hoping this latest development will ultimately result in a renaissance for them after years of bruising publicity.

One person associated with the couple said they worked with the public brilliantly, always appearing interested and engaged.

If it works, the irony will be that Prince Edward will finally find success by performing the role he was born to do - as an active member of the Royal Family.