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Days after he fired a warning shot at his errant son in the form of a formal letter, King Charles has reportedly been left “pretty vexed” as a new “saga” involving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plays out in public.
On September 8, Charles clarified the status of the newly returned Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with senior stakeholders in the UK.
The note confirmed that nothing had changed with regards to the Duke and Duchess since Megxit, and that they were to be seen as “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests”.
Cue a statement from a spokesperson of the Sussexes, describing how they were “surprised” not to have been told about the letter’s contents in advance.
The couple reportedly prefer the term “public figures” to “private citizens” and there’s rumblings it may have something to do with Harry’s quest for taxpayer-funded security.
That quest appeared to take a new turn on September 15, when reports emerged that Harry and Meghan had removed their kids from their brand new school after two days over security worries.
“The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements,” a rep for the couple told Hello!
“The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family. This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there.”
The outlet reported that navigating the distance between home and school was impractical and challenging for the family’s security vehicles, due to the need to remain in a convoy.
“The sad thing is that Archie and Lilibet really liked the school, so there was no issue with the place itself, but clearly Harry and Meghan realised fairly quickly it wasn’t going to work,” an insider told Woman’s Day.
“The kids’ safety must come first – especially with their dad on a Taliban hit list – so it was best to pull them out before they got too settled in.”
But it was a move that led to a stern rebuke from one royal biographer.
Speaking to The Sun, author Robert Jobson accused the Sussexes of “dressing the school run up as a security story”.
“Harry failed at the High Court, now he is trying to strong-arm Ravec and the Home Office into giving him what he wants,” the expert said, referring to the committee that is now set to review the family’s security arrangements once again.
“I suggest they buy themselves an alarm clock, set it three quarters of an hour early and join the real world,” Jobson blasted.
“Nobody asked him to come with his family to a country he deemed was unsafe. Round-the-clock security for the non-working royals will cost a small fortune.”
It is perhaps not a surprise that the issue of taxpayer-funded security for the Sussexes hits a nerve in the UK. The couple were famously disparaging of their treatment in Harry’s birth country during their Oprah interview, and have subsequently sought commercial opportunity over a return to royal duties.
Now, sources tell Woman’s Day that King Charles is at the end of his tether over the turn of events.
“Charles was not pleased that Harry gave him so little notice about coming back, it put everyone at the palace on the back foot. That was bad enough but since then there’s been a steady stream of complaints coming from the Sussex camp, along with plenty of demands,” the insider shares, adding that the palace has “reluctantly accepted no lessons were really learned”.
“It’s also pretty vexing to The King that so many details are being leaked out,” the source continues.
“Harry and Meghan may not be going on the record but they are clearly trying to control the narrative by approving certain stories and making snarky responses to all the backlash via their trusted favourites.
“That is not sitting well with the King or the hierarchy of people around him who are helping to run the monarchy.”
As one former Met Police chief put it to the Daily Mail, developments have created a new “saga”, which appears to be the result of a “rushed” move to the UK.
So what next for relations between the Palace and Camp Sussex?
“[The Palace has] very swiftly and pointedly let Harry know that all protocol will stay in place and is to be followed,” a source tells Woman’s Day.
“And, if Harry can’t accept that the King won’t have any issue with him returning to America, as unfortunate as that would be.”
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