Royal historian Alexander Larman has insisted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's current situation is not sustainable, in a blow to the Sussexes. He made the remarks as the couple embark on three charity visits in Nottingham on Thursday, marking their first joint public appearance together since their UK return.
Debate over the Sussexes' return to public life
Appearing on GB News Breakfast hosted by Ellie Costello and Stephen Dixon, Larman was debating whether the Duke and Duchess's return to public life was simply cynical. The historian claimed their joint public appearance could be likened to a royal event.
"Because ultimately, what we are seeing is that they are in a very weird, very anomalous position where they are behaving as if they're members of the Royal Family," he said.
"They are behaving as if they expect the adulation and the attention that they get when they're in the Royal Family, but they left a long time ago, and it's strange because they're not half in, half out."
Criticism of the 'halfway house' approach
Larman added: "They are essentially private citizens, except they are going into these things as if they are royalty. And I think that even if you're like me and you'd prefer that they just disappeared away from the public eye, they're probably not going to. So the next best thing, I think, has to be this bizarre halfway house, which I just don't think is sustainable or tenable anymore."
His remarks came after royal commentator Jack Stooks defended the couple, insisting they were not arranging these events themselves.
"We have seen them doing these events ever since they've left. They've continued to do events," he pointed out. "Obviously, they haven't been doing them in the UK. Harry's been over a few times, so this is the first time they're actually doing one jointly."
Defence of the couple's engagements
Stooks continued: "They didn't arrange this. They were asked to go and do this. We've heard [a lot about] whether or not Harry's doing enough and whether he should be back in the fold or whether he shouldn't be in the fold, and saying that they can't be half in, half out royals."
He argued that Prince William could also be considered "half in and half out" because he decides which events he wants to do, with other jobs given to different royals. Stooks suggested the Sussexes should be allowed to "be brought back in" and do a mix of royal and independent events.
"I do think that that will be quite a wise move, because we're all tired of this now. I think we're all tired of this. You know, one family's doing that, the other family's doing the next. I mean, they're back in England. They're trying to make amends, and I think that that's the way it should probably go," he reflected.
