Harry and Meghan are back living in the UK (Image: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have expressed a wish to be known as public figures rather than “private citizens”, it has been reported. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are living back in the UK with their two children, reportedly did not agree with the fact they are to be known as “private citizens”, as confirmed in a letter sent on behalf of the King to senior government and military officials.
While other parts of the letter may not have come as a surprise, including the clarification that Harry and Meghan are not working royals, various news publications have reported that the duke and duchess do not like the term private citizens. Instead, it has been reported that the Sussexes would prefer to be called “public figures”. This is because they reportedly feel like it would “acknowledge that, on a personal level, they remained members of the Royal Family, despite no longer receiving public funding”.
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The couple’s feelings about this were reportedly made clear on a briefing note from the couple, the Daily Mail reports.
The Daily Express has contacted the couple’s spokesperson to confirm their thoughts.
While Harry and Meghan have not vocally addressed this themselves, it is believed that the King’s letter as a whole “surprised” them. A spokesperson for the couple said that they were not told about the letter much in advance, with Harry only having seen the letter a few minutes before it was made public due to the fact he had been in a meeting.
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Harry was reportedly surprised by the letter (Image: Getty Images)
The letter on behalf of the King this week comes after Harry and Meghan relocated back to Britain in August.
The duke and duchess, alongside their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are believed to be living in a privately-rented home outside of London.
Both Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, have already started at a British school.
The location of the home and school will not be disclosed for security reasons.