Harry and Meghan want to be seen as ‘public figures’ rather than ‘private citizens’ after King’s letter
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are understood to want to be described as “public figures” rather than “private citizens”, following a strongly worded letter from King Charles reaffirming their position after Megxit.
The couple are reportedly unhappy with the wording used by the King, which stated that they are no longer working members of the Royal Family and described their position as being “akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
The distinction has raised eyebrows because it comes six years after Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties, moved to the US and repeatedly spoke about wanting greater privacy and freedom from the intense scrutiny that accompanied royal life.
A surprising response to the King’s guidance
The Sussexes are said to have been surprised when the guidance was made public, particularly because they had not expected it to be published at that time.
A spokesman for the couple said: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this [the letter] in advance.”
According to reports, the letter was shared with the Sussexes at 1.59pm. Harry’s office then contacted Buckingham Palace 20 minutes later to ask whether the guidance had already been released.
Harry was reportedly informed by his office at 3.09pm — just three minutes after the statement became public.
But the disagreement now appears to go beyond the timing of the announcement. The bigger issue is reportedly how Harry and Meghan should be described and viewed in Britain.
The ‘private citizen’ wording
Charles’ guidance made clear that the terms of the 2020 Megxit agreement remain unchanged.
The King stated that Harry and Meghan had stepped down from representative duties and that their position was “akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
Their Royal Highness styles also remain in abeyance and are not to be used.
The Sussexes are nevertheless expected to become more visible in Britain through charitable activities and public engagements, making the language used to describe their status increasingly significant.
Their return comes after The Sun reported that Harry and Meghan had arrived back in Britain with their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, earlier this month.
A very different chapter from Megxit
The latest dispute is particularly striking when viewed against the events that followed the couple’s decision to step down as working royals in 2020.
After moving to America, Harry and Meghan gave the explosive Oprah interview, released a Netflix series, published Harry’s memoir Spare and took part in a series of highly publicised interviews and appearances.
At the same time, they repeatedly criticised what they described as intrusive media coverage.
During her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan spoke about privacy and later told The Cut in 2022 that wanting to protect her children did not mean she was “obsessed with privacy.”
She argued that protecting her children from excessive attention was part of being a responsible parent.
Yet six years after Megxit, the couple are now returning to Britain and preparing for a more visible public presence.
Security remains a major sticking point
The question of Harry and Meghan’s status is also closely connected to the long-running dispute over Harry’s security in the UK.
After stepping down from royal duties, Harry lost his automatic entitlement to taxpayer-funded armed police protection.
He has continued to challenge the decision, arguing that his family remains at risk when visiting Britain.
Following his latest legal defeat over his UK security arrangements, Harry told the BBC that he “can’t see a world” in which he would bring his wife and children back to Britain.
He also said he felt “very let down” by his country and described the security decision as an “establishment stitch-up.”
The security dispute remains unresolved, with the Home Office position on funding protection unchanged.
Charles’ guidance made clear that security concerns should instead be taken to the relevant police authorities.
Harry’s changing relationship with Britain
Harry has previously spoken openly about his complicated feelings towards Britain and the Royal Family.
During the Oprah interview in 2021, he said he had felt “trapped” within the institution and that he “didn’t see a way out” until he met Meghan.
He also described Britain as a “toxic environment” and claimed racism in the media had “filtered into the rest of society.”
Meghan, meanwhile, said the way stories about her were reported had contributed to an increase in death threats against her.
Against that backdrop, their decision to return to Britain with their children marks a notable change.
A new Sussex presence in Britain
The couple’s return appears to coincide with plans for a greater involvement in public and charitable life.
Meghan is preparing to renew links with UK charities, while Harry and Meghan are also working out how their future public engagements will be covered.
Harry has already been spotted at Tower Bridge Studios in London, where he signed a wall during a visit.
Royal expert Phil Dampier previously described Charles’ intervention as a “warning shot”, intended to remove any confusion over the Sussexes’ position.
According to Dampier, Harry and Meghan remain free to live, work and undertake charitable activities in Britain — but they do so as private individuals rather than working royals.
And that is what makes the latest disagreement so striking.
After years of saying they wanted to step away from royal life and the pressures of public scrutiny, Harry and Meghan are now reportedly seeking a description that emphasises their status as “public figures.”
In many ways, the dispute brings the Megxit story back to the very question that has followed the couple since 2020: how public can their lives be while remaining separate from the institution they once represented?