Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared before the European Parliament this week to speak about online child safety, an engagement that underscores their continued pursuit of a quasi-royal role despite King Charles's position that they should be treated as private citizens.
The Duke of Sussex delivered the keynote address alone, with reports suggesting Meghan was "not strong enough emotionally" to participate as planned after her father was charged with possession of child abuse material. In Brussels, the couple sat through formal addresses from Parliament president Roberta Metsola and MEP Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, first vice-chair of the Child Rights Intergroup.
A Platform Reserved for Working Royals
The outing, their first engagement abroad since returning to the UK in August, was jarringly at odds with the King's guidelines that the Sussexes should be considered "private citizens" with no royal privileges. Within weeks of their move back from the US, Harry and Meghan publicly pushed back, seeking recognition instead as "public figures".
This comes despite Harry's clear disdain for the Firm in recent years. In his memoir Spare, he unleashed a torrent of criticism at the King, Prince William, Princess Kate and Queen Camilla, with not even Queen Elizabeth II or members of the royal household escaping unscathed.
Half In, Half Out
It is more evident than ever that Harry and Meghan consider themselves "half in, half out" of the Royal Family – a role combining official duties with commercial interests in a way expressly forbidden by the late Queen and reiterated by the King. While blending philanthropy with promotional work from the US was one thing, it is another now that they are based in Britain.
That is precisely why the King set out his guidelines: living in the UK inevitably ties whatever causes they take up to the Firm, while leaving the couple in complete control of how they are presented. The couple have shown where their priorities lie, timing major announcements and visits with those linked to Buckingham Palace and carrying out quasi-royal visits on UK soil, with their recent trip to Nottingham bearing all the hallmarks of an official engagement, from the press pen to the meet-and-greets with crowds of well-wishers.
Determined to Carve Out Their Own Roles
It is hard to believe Harry and Meghan haven't grasped the potential for damage in their new Firm-adjacent position. The likelier explanation is that they don't care, and are determined to carve out their own roles in the mould of the royal life Harry has always known, with cash perks not on offer to actual working members. At some point, Harry must decide whether he wants to escape the institution or imitate it, because he can't keep doing both.
