Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.nine.com.au
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are likely to make “one or two” joint public appearances before the end of the year following their successful outing in Nottingham.
Prince Harry and Meghan, however, have taken issue with the description “working members of the royal family”, describing it as a “lazy phrase”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have taken issue with being described as “former royals” and “hate” the term “working royals”. Getty
Friends have told The Times the couple baulk at being described as “former royals”, insisting the description “has an impact on how they’re perceived”.
Prince Harry and Meghan carried out their first joint public engagements since returning to the UK in Nottingham last week, visiting charities they have supported for several years.
They were there as private citizens six years after stepping back from public duty and moving to the United States.
A week or so after they returned to live in Britain in late August, King Charles sent a letter to senior military and government officials that reiterated Harry and Meghan’s status as non-working royals was unchanged.
To “help avoid doubt or confusion”, Harry and Meghan were “no longer working members of the royal family”, the king said via the head of the royal household, the Lord Chamberlain.
The couple should be treated as “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests”, it added.
Now, an unnamed friend of Harry and Meghan’s has told the British publication the Sussexes don’t like the term “working royals”.
The friend told The Times: “‘Working members of the royal family’ is a really lazy phrase. He hates it, she hates it.
Prince Harry and Meghan returned to the public with several outings in Nottingham last week and are planning “one or two more things together” by the end of the year. Getty Images
“They are not ‘working’ for the institution, but they are members of the royal family and they work. Their days are built around their family life and their work. She’s running a business seven days a week.”
“Working royals” refers to those members of the British royal family who carry out engagements on behalf of the monarchy and King Charles.
Meghan’s focus, for now, is understood to be growing her lifestyle business As ever. The brand is expected to launch in the UK by the end of the year, which will mark the first time her jams, flower sprinkles, honeys and teas will be available to customers outside the US.
The couple received a warm welcome in Nottingham and were given gifts for their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Getty Images
The duchess has launched a “holiday collection” with more Christmas-themed products to come later this week.
She is also busy with the school run now that Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, attend a local school.
A return to acting is possibly on the cards for the duchess’ future, friends told The Telegraph UK last week.
The couple also dislike being referred to as “former royals”.
The couple ceased being working royals soon after they announced their plans to leave the UK for the US in January 2020. Getty
“Harry is the son of the king, he is still a member of the royal family, he’s just not a member of the institution,” the friend told The Times.
“It’s misleading to call them ‘former royals’. It has an impact on how they’re perceived and the way people talk about them.”
Prince Harry and Meghan are not expected to spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, instead they are due to celebrate the holiday with Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.
Before then, however, they will carry out “one or two more things together before the end of the year” the friend added.
