The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were dealt a huge blow just weeks after returning to the UK.
King says Meghan and Harry not working royals despite UK return
Following years of living in Montecito, California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have now returned to the UK. But just two weeks into their stay, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may soon be leaving Britain, according to royal journalist Dickie Arbiter. He joined host Jeremy Kyle on TalkTV on Wednesday and delivered a huge blow. It comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were left “surprised” by the King’s formal reiteration they will be treated as “private citizens”. The couple did not have enough time to clarify any points before the guidance was issued to the media, it is understood. Harry’s father King Charles asked the Royal Household’s most senior officer the Lord Chamberlain to write to senior stakeholders within the Government and the military setting out guidelines on their status which confirmed they could not use their “HRH” titles.
Jeremy commented: “This preconceived belief they were going to come back and they were going to come back and the King released this letter via Lord Chamberlain. Do you think this will mean they won’t last long in the UK. It will be temporary. How long do you think they will be here?” Dickie suggested the Sussexes may leave the country sooner than they previously anticipated.
He replied: “I’m not sure they are here long-term. I firmly believe that they will go back to Montecito for Christmas because that’s where her mother is. Everybody talks about reconciliation with the King but what about reconciliation with Thomas Markle.”
Harry and Meghan ‘set to leave UK’ after Sussex humiliation (Image: PA)
Dickie Arbiter appeared on TalkTV alongside Jeremy Kyle (Image: TalkTV)
Lord Benyon’s letter reiterates the couple’s “current” status as non-working royals.
It reads, “This position, distinct from the state and royal duties undertaken by the working royal family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.
“Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.
It says their charitable work “is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity” adding, “In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
It was revealed to the media at 3.06pm on Monday. It is understood the contents were shared with Harry and Meghan’s team almost an hour before at 1.59pm.
Meanwhile, the couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are expected to be starting school in the UK near to the family’s reported countryside retreat.