A royal expert has warned Prince Harry and Meghan Markle the King will continue to issue statements on their status as royals as they try to navigate life in the UK.
King Charles issued a bombshell letter clarifying the couple would remain non-working royals and should be treated as such following their unexpected return to the UK.
The Sussexes retaliated with a statement revealing their “surprise” at the letter before palace officials subsequently insisted the couple had received the letter before it was released publicly.
Now, a royal expert has revealed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should expect several more damning statements reaffirming their non-working royal status.
LBC presenter and journalist Shelagh Fogarty criticised Harry and Meghan for carrying out engagements that resemble royal duties while simultaneously claiming they are not working royals.
“Look at their recent visit to Australia,” she said. “It was a success. But it looked like a royal tour. It walked like a royal tour. It was a royal tour.
“And I suspect that’s part of what the King’s letter was trying to address.
“I think Harry and Meghan will find more and more examples of this. I think it’s going to get ugly.
“Because they insist on living a life that looks almost exactly like that of working members of the Royal Family, while also insisting they aren’t.”
On Monday, a strongly-worded letter was issued on behalf of the King firmly noting the Sussexes are private citizens.
“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working members of the Royal Family,” it reads.
“This position, distinct from the state and royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.
“It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.
“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
In a statement issued following the release of the letter, a spokesman for the Duke and Duchess said: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”