Harry and Meghan ‘spitting blood’ at Palace assertion which leaves them ‘trapped’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are facing fresh tensions with the Palace after a royal expert claimed a blunt new statement could leave them increasingly isolated during future UK engagements
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex(Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be “absolutely spitting blood” after a fresh Palace intervention underlining their status as private citizens – and one royal expert claims the move could leave them facing a major problem with future public appearances.
Writing in The i, Harry Mount said the couple had been building bridges with King Charles, but suggested the latest intervention could threaten the fragile progress made between them.
The Lord Chamberlain, Lord Richard Benyon, wrote to Government departments, the military and Lords-Lieutenant following requests for guidance after the Sussexes returned to the UK on August 26.
The letter, issued on behalf of the King, made clear that Harry and Meghan “are no longer working Members of The Royal Family” and do not use their HRH styles. It also stated that operational security matters involving the couple should be directed to the relevant police authorities.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes responded: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.” Mount interpreted the response as a sign of deeper frustration, writing: “That is code for absolutely spitting blood.”
He warned that another confrontation between the Sussexes and Charles could now be on the cards, despite reports of a thaw in relations.
Harry and Meghan with King Charles(Image: Getty)
“It’s odds on there’s another blow-up coming between the Sussexes and the King,” Mount wrote. “For all the supposed rapprochement, with the Sussexes visiting the King in the summer and moving back to Britain, the rift has never really closed.”
He also pointed to the continuing distance between Harry and his brother, William, and sister-in-law, Kate, suggesting there was little indication they were ready to fully welcome Harry back into the fold.
But according to Mount, the Palace statement could have consequences extending well beyond family tensions.
The Lord Chamberlain’s letter was also sent to Lords-Lieutenant across Britain’s counties. These are the senior local representatives who frequently attend royal visits and help coordinate engagements with authorities and communities.
Mount said their role is far more significant than simply appearing alongside members of the Royal Family.
“They are the ones you see at all royal visits, dressed in smart uniforms,” he wrote. “After that letter, they will not be there at Harry and Meghan’s charitable events.”
He described Lords-Lieutenant as “crucial conduits to local life”, claiming they know key figures in their counties, help organise visits and work alongside local police forces to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Meghan and Harry together(Image: Getty)
Without that support, Mount argued, Harry and Meghan could find their public engagements much harder to arrange.
“Without that level of administration and police protection, or without paying themselves for a private security operation, Sussex visits risk becoming a bunfight, open to all,” he wrote.
And that could dramatically restrict the type of events the couple are able to attend.
“So Harry and Meghan will be bound to stay indoors, trapped inside cavernous hotels and function rooms, restricted to meeting fellow celebs for the rest of their lives.”
The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial reasons, with Charles understood to have remained firm that there would be no return to official royal duties or a “half-in, half-out” arrangement.
The King’s latest instruction reiterates that position while confirming that the couple’s independence and privacy as private citizens will continue to be respected.
