The Sussexes ‘feel they have a right’ to plan competing engagements to those carried out by senior working royals
Harry and Meghan ‘feel they have a right’ to carry out engagements (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced some criticism after their first joint appearance last week since moving back to the UK due to the similarities it held to their previous royal engagements. However, the Sussexes “feel they have a right” to continue to carry out visits of their choosing, rivaling those conducted by senior working royals, including William and Kate, according to reports.
The couple have been slammed for attempting to become “quasi-royals by stealth” by one royal biographer. Harry and Meghan stepped back as working royals in 2020 and moved to the US, before relocating back to the UK in August. A close friend of Harry’s told Hello! the pair feel “they have a right to” live “independent lives” including making public appearances for causes they care about.
The insider told the outlet: “They want to have their independent lives in the way they think they should, and they feel they have a right to, like anybody. I don’t think they are going to do things in a different way just because they’re back in the UK.”
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It comes after Harry and Meghan faced criticism for their Nottingham visit (Image: Getty)
The visit to Nottingham came just over a month after a strongly worded letter written on behalf of the King made the role of Harry and Meghan clear, and positioned them as “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.” The communication, which came as a shock to the couple, further stated that any work they undertake “is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in a private capacity.”
The letter reiterated the decision of the late Queen Elizabeth that Harry and Meghan could not be ‘half-in, half-out’ royals. The friend continued to add that criticism about their engagements “doesn’t trouble them”.
“They never agreed that they wouldn’t be half-in, half-out. That was what was decided and was foisted upon them.”
The couples engagements are said to ‘rival’ each other (Image: Getty)
“They’re just living their lives, and they can do it because they’re financially independent,” the friend added.
Following the Nottingham visit, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan told People, “Everyone came away feeling really positive and genuinely thrilled by the love and support they received.” At the time of the visit, Meghan told fans: “It’s great to be back.”
Although there has been a mixed reception following the visit, the Sussexes are thought to continue carrying out royal-like visits for causes they care about, competing with the likes of Will and Kate, who have been standing strong as a unit since the return of his brother amid their fued. Prince William, reportedly viewed the quasi-royal Nottingham expedition as “distateful”.