A week after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle landed back in the UK to start their next chapter, a letter on behalf of King Charles has caused more royal furore.
Sent to government and military officials, the letter stated that Harry and Meghan were not back as working royals, and would not be addressed by His or Her Royal Highness in any capacity.
Harry and Meghan’s work a ‘personal matter’
The letter, which was issued in a bid to “avoid doubt or confusion” clearly laid out that any charitable work taken on by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is a “personal matter”.
“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity,” Lord Chamberlain, a senior Buckingham Palace official, wrote.
It’s the first time the Royals have officially made any comment about Harry and Meghan’s surprise return, after they first visited King Charles in July this year in a bid to mend the family rift.
However, according to other media outlets, there was one working royal who may have had a big say in Charles issuing a statement.
William’s final say
Sources told Royal commentator Rob Shuter that it was William who pushed the King to say something to reinforce the Sussexes are not part of the working royals.
“William had had enough of the confusion,” a source told Shuter’s Naughty But Nice newsletter.
“Lord Lieutenancies were asking how Harry and Meghan should be treated. William’s answer was brutally simple: nothing has changed. They are out.”
The clarification from the royal family reportedly left Harry and Meghan feeling a little stung.
“Their team received the message shortly before the rest of the world,” the insider said. “There was no negotiation. They were informed. That was the moment they realised they had underestimated William’s power.”
While it’s not known the real reason why the Sussexes have returned, it appears there’s still a long way to go before any bridges will be mended between William and Harry.
“They’re starting to question whether this return can work,” the insider said. “William can close doors faster than they expected. William has won, for now.”
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