Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been told they are “playing with fire” by suggesting they were “a little surprised” at the King’s letter clarifying their status as non-working Royals.
King Charles laid out the couple’s position in a letter sent on Monday (September 7), a few days after Harry and Meghan landed in Britain in late August. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to stay in the UK for an “extended period”.
In the letter, sent to senior government and military officials, Charles said the pair will refrain from using the formal royal titles, such as His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness, and added any charity work carried out by the couple will be carried out in a “private capacity”.
The Sussexes’ office then issued a briefing to media saying they were ‘a little surprised’ by the note. Reportedly, Harry only had two minutes to read the letter before it was sent to the media, as Buckingham Palace sent it to the Sussexes office 72 minutes before publication. The Prince was in a meeting and could not be reached.
It has also been said the duo would prefer to be known as “public figures” and not “private citizens” to reflect their existing personal connection to the King.
Now, former Conservative MP and author Louise Bagshawe, previously known as Louise Mensch, has claimed they are “playing with fire”. She took to X to share her thoughts on the row.
“I think it was another serious error for Meghan to issue an on the record statement that she was ‘surprised’ by the King’s announcement,” the former MP for Corby said. “She had no right to be notified of it in advance at all. No right to edit it.”
She added: “The King will not tolerate competing press releases for long, it looks like a rival court. He is King. If Meghan wishes to disobey him, he can remove Harry’s status as a Prince of the UK with a stroke of the pen, and I believe he would. She is playing with fire.”
The row comes as Harry and Meghan are reportedly setting up a new life in the Cotswolds after six years away in California, enrolling their children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, in local schools.
Meghan has also been seen at the ultra-luxurious private members club Soho Farmhouse in Great Tew, a favourite haunt of the Beckhams, according to reports.
The Sussexes have been contacted for comment.
