Prince Harry has reportedly issued new demands to the Palace, asking that the Royal Family's diary be shared with him so that his engagements and those of the monarchy do not clash. Critics have branded the request arrogant, suggesting it oversteps the bounds of his role as a non-working royal.
Harry's Request for Royal Diary Access
According to reports, the Duke of Sussex wants advance notice of upcoming royal events to avoid "embarrassing scheduling clashes" in the future. A source close to the Sussexes insisted that Harry never "sets out" to steal the limelight from King Charles or Prince William, but claimed he needs "decent foresight" of royal plans.
A Sussex source told The Times that if the couple withdrew from their own events at the last minute, it would disappoint charities. The source added, pointing at the Palace: "He [Prince Harry] can only mitigate against clashes if information is shared with him in advance."
Criticism of the Duke's Demands
Commentators have noted the apparent irony in Harry's request, given his history of public interviews and his 2023 memoir Spare, which critics say focused heavily on his own grievances. The latest reports suggest that Harry and Meghan Markle, as non-working royals, are primarily concerned about their commercial engagements being overshadowed by high-profile royal appearances.
The timing of the reports coincides with King Charles's sensitive trip to the Caribbean, though the Sussexes are said to be staying out of the public eye for the next two weeks to spend half-term with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
