The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly taken issue with King Charles's labelling of them as "private citizens" in his statement on their move back to Britain this week. Instead, they would like to be known as "public figures", as it would "acknowledge that, on a personal level, they remain members of the Royal Family, despite no longer receiving public funding".
A spokesperson also said Harry and Meghan "were a little surprised not to have been told about" the King's statement in advance - even though it broke no new ground and simply restated their existing non-working status.
Line in the sand between Sussexes and Windsors
The episode may well be regarded in the future as a line in the sand between the Sussexes and the Windsors, with both sides having their suspicions of the other confirmed.
Charles's firm position on their post-Megxit standing has likely solidified Harry and Meghan's sense of grievance, after years of painting the Firm as cold and unfeeling. And Harry and Meghan's rapid rejoinder to his announcement likely confirms to the King, Queen and other senior royals that very little has changed over the last six years.
Return to Britain and business motives
Yes, the prodigal son has returned home after a flurry of briefings about his homesickness and desire to be a "stay at home dad" to his two children in the country he grew up in.
But the couple's reported demand for association with the Royal Family on their own terms - and apparent expectation to be consulted on the minutiae of the King's public statements - betrays a striking lack of contrition for their public criticism of the monarchy since 2020.
They departed amid allegations of hostility and racist attitudes by the royal establishment and press, then continued to make the case publicly from across the Atlantic before, in recent years, running short of new material.
Their move back to Britain is almost certainly motivated in part by Harry's wish to be closer to his father as Charles continues cancer treatment and approaches his 80th birthday, whatever the state of their estrangement.
But a self-declared intention to remain "public figures" tied to the Crown also hints at something more transactional, linked to the couple's underwhelming business ventures in the US and the poor reception to their non-royal projects. They gambled that a return to Britain would refresh their public profile. If the first two weeks are anything to go by, it won't pay off.
