A Buckingham Palace statement has dealt a crushing blow to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with seven words in particular delivering a private humiliation. The letter, sent on behalf of King Charles by the Lord Chamberlain, clarifies that despite their return to the UK, the Sussexes remain non-working royals.
The correspondence was distributed to government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants — the monarch's local representatives often involved in royal visits and engagements. In essence, it instructs that if Harry and Meghan appear in their areas, they are not representing the Royal Family and should not be given the red carpet treatment.
Seven Words That Sting
The letter also stresses that Harry and Meghan should not be referred to as "His and Her Royal Highness". It adds, in seven words: "Their position is akin to private citizens."
Those words are seen as the most damaging to the Sussexes, who are clearly furious about the letter. Team Sussex hit back with a blunt statement: "We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance."
For clarity, Palace sources claim they shared the letter with the Sussexes' office 67 minutes before it was released.
Security Row Intensifies
The timing could not be worse for Harry and Meghan, who are continuing to argue their case for 24/7 taxpayer-funded Metropolitan Police armed protection — a privilege granted to working royals, but not to "private citizens".
The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), the Home Office body responsible for decisions on royal security, was reportedly due to meet as early as Tuesday this week to discuss arrangements for the Sussexes. The King's statement, released the day before, clearly ruled out any role for them within the Royal Family in the lead-up to that crunch meeting.
The situation is likely to leave the Sussexes enraged and further fuel their feelings that there is a grand, royal conspiracy being set against them — and that the Royal Household are playing chess with their lives. It might even make them rethink their whole decision to return to the UK for this extended period.
Tension Set to Rise
One thing is certain: this tension will not de-escalate until it escalates further. The King was bold and decisive in his statement, but Harry and Meghan are not shy from fighting smoke with a Towering Inferno.
