The Duke and Duchess of Sussex carried out three charity visits in Nottingham on Thursday, in what was described as the closest to a non-royal royal visit. The engagements resembled their past appearances as working royals, but were not official royal duties.
A letter to Government stakeholders authorised by the King last month clarified that the Sussexes remain “private citizens.” Despite this, the high-profile events bore all the hallmarks of official royal engagements.
Criticism of 'Royal Cosplay'
Various well-respected figures within the royal community criticised Thursday’s appearance as “royal cosplay.” The Telegraph’s royal editor Hannah Furness said the Sussexes are back to what they said they don’t want.
She said: “Harry and Meghan are back to Nottingham, back to hand-picked charity visits they still call 'engagements', and back to walkabouts. Back to accepting flowers, inviting the press to cover them, and doling out hugs to anyone in the vicinity.”
She added: “Back to the life they said they did not want, except this time with none of the boring bits, or the duty that being a working royal entails.”
Royal Déjà Vu
The Times’ royal editor Kate Mansey claimed that despite quitting the Royal Family six years ago, the Sussexes organised a “day full of royal déjà vu moments.” She also claimed that their appearance left Palace courtiers describing the situation as “intensely frustrating.”
Furness also said Thursday felt like “a bit of a challenge to the King,” who, alongside the late Queen Elizabeth, hoped that “a line could be drawn between the working family and the selling of jam.”
During their first engagement, the Sussexes spent 20 minutes greeting crowds, shaking hands, giving hugs, and taking selfies. They were mobbed by fans as they departed.
