Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly dislike the term "non-working royals" because they believe it is misleading, a friend of the couple has revealed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, are now living in the UK again, but their status remains unchanged.
Why the Term Is Disliked
The term "working royals" is used to distinguish members of the Royal Family who carry out official duties on behalf of the Crown from those who do not. Since Harry and Meghan do not perform such duties, they are commonly described as non-working royals.
However, a friend of the couple told The Sunday Times: "Working members of the Royal Family' is a really lazy phrase. He hates it; she hates it." The source added: "They are not 'working' for the institution, but they are members of the Royal Family, and they work. Their days are built around their family life and their work. She's running a business seven days a week."
King Charles's Letter
Shortly after the couple returned to Britain in August, King Charles issued a letter to Government departments, lord lieutenants, and military officials. In it, he made clear that Harry and Meghan are non-working royals and should be treated as "private citizens with commercial and charitable interests".
Harry and Meghan were reportedly surprised by the letter. A spokesman for the couple said at the time: "We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance."
Royal-Style Walkabout in Nottingham
Despite their non-working status, the couple appeared to act like working royals during a visit to Nottingham on Thursday. They carried out royal-style walkabouts, shaking hands with the public, taking selfies, and receiving flowers.
The Telegraph's royal editor Hannah Furness wrote: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are back. Back to Nottingham, back to hand-picked charity visits they still call 'engagements', and back to walkabouts."
She added: "Back to accepting flowers, inviting the press to cover them, and doling out hugs to anyone in the vicinity. 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."
