The royal feud rumbles on.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the UK could be “hell” for Princess Kate, a royal commentator has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to the country after six years living in California, raising their children Archie and Lilibet, now aged five and seven.
Tensions are already running high after their return. King Charles issued a shock letter clarifying that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens, not working royals.
In response, the Sussexes said they were surprised by the letter and claimed they were not “told about this in advance”.
Get the latest news and gossip from the Royal Family plus selected offers and competitions
Invalid email
You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info.
It has also emerged that Harry is planning a number of public engagements. As a result, some royal experts are suggesting Harry and Meghan’s UK return could be a nightmare for Princess Kate.
Writing for News.au, royal expert Daniela Elser warned: “It does not appear the Sussexes have any plans to sit quietly in the shires to reclusively collect delphinium cuttings and rescue dogs.”
She added: “For Kate, what are the chances of Harry and Meghan’s off-brand royalling not stealing all the available thunder?”
As Harry plans to make a number of public appearances, The Times has also reported that Meghan is keen to continue charity work of her own.
This comes as the royals return from their summer break and prepare to undertake a number of public outings.
Ms Elser continued: “Kate’s new working royal year is shaping up to be hell.”
Princess Kate (Image: Getty)
The Sun’s Royal Editor, Hugo Vickers, has warned that Harry’s events could also distract from William’s public engagements.
He said: “The awful thing is that whenever they come to this country, if Prince William is doing one thing and Prince Harry is doing another, it will be interpreted as a competition—even if Prince Harry does not intend it to be.
“Therefore, it becomes a distraction. I don’t quite know what they want to do, but presumably, they want to raise their profile.
“If they intend to be public figures and carry out more of these appearances, they will inevitably be in competition with the royal family—effectively setting up an alternative court. That is not a positive development.”
Express reporter Adam Toms says, as usual, the Sussexes have got the wrong end of the stick.
King says Meghan and Harry not working royals despite UK return
Harry and Meghan’s return to the UK has not begun in what you might call an auspicious manner. Buckingham Palace’s devastating letter published earlier this week reiterated that the couple are “private citizens”, in what could be viewed as the King laying down the gauntlet — his first test. It was seemingly to pre-empt engagements the Sussexes are expected to carry out in the coming months, which could be judged by observers to be quasi-royal.
Harry and Meghan clearly want the attention and clout of working royals without, you know, actually being working royals. You only have to look at their recent trip to Australia. They have themselves to blame for the latest development: Uganda pulling out of Harry’s Invictus Games. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country’s military chief, has told the Times that this is because he wants to quash support for “Harry-Meghan nonsense” within his defence ministry and signal his support for the King.
Harry and Meghan are back in the UK (Image: Getty)
The Sussexes blame Charles for Uganda’s withdrawal (Image: Getty)
That’s the correct position to take.
This is a huge embarrassment for Harry, as Uganda only joined the Invictus Games in July.
This was announced at Chatham House in London, as the duke marked the one-year countdown to the next games.
The Sussexes should realise that this shows their actions have consequences.
They have acted in a spoilt and nasty manner and people have realised this.
The couple find themselves in a giant hole.
But, inevitably, they have grabbed the wrong end of the stick.
A source close to Harry told ITV: “Intended or unintended, this is clearly a consequence of the Lord Chamberlain’s guidance regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that was rushed out without consultation on Monday.”
They added: “Sadly, the only people who will suffer are the Invictus Games competitors.”
Please have some introspection, Harry.
That letter was necessary because of your actions — actively trying to damage the monarchy, your own family, and go against the wishes of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by clearly wanting to carve out a sort of “half-in, half-out” role for yourself and Meghan.
Tantrums don’t get you anywhere in life.