Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have "overshadowed" a major milestone for Prince George with their return to the UK, according to a royal expert. Phil Dampier said King Charles's letter to the Sussexes was a "warning shot" against overshadowing the Royal Family.
Return to the UK
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, made a surprise return to the UK a fortnight ago, but they will remain non-working royals, the King's statement said. However, according to Mr Dampier, the announcement was more addressed to the public than his youngest son and daughter-in-law.
"It's really sending out a message - a warning shot across their bows, you could say," he said. "What they're [the palace] emphasising is that nothing has changed as far as they're concerned."
Private individuals
According to Dampier, the message may be ignored by Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, who "like the drama". "No one was expecting them to come back, so they didn't feel it was necessary to point this out before," he said.
"But now that they've come back and might start turning up to various charity events or doing commercial activities, it's got to be absolutely clear to everyone that they are doing it as private individuals and not as royals."
Important day overshadowed
The drama comes on an important day for the Royal Family, for several reasons. September 8 marks the fourth anniversary of the late Queen's death, as well as the first day of Prince George's, 13, at Eton College.
However, the important day for the prince, who is second in line to the throne, was overshadowed by the back and forth from Harry and Meghan regarding their security, the King's message and their return to the UK.
Mr Dampier explained: "Well, this is one of the problems. When we start to get a controversy over Harry and Meghan, it tends to make the front pages. We've got Prince George going to Eton today - his first day at Eton - and we've got the anniversary of the Queen's death, and it's overshadowing it all. I think this is what the Royal Family is worried about."
"It seemingly is a case where you give them an inch and they take advantage, and they don't learn at any stage that they need to rein it back and be more humble and cooperative."
