Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been trying to carve out their own path outside the royal family this year. That was always going to be a challenge: The monarchy is a centuries-old institution in Britain. It seems that while trying to establish themselves in new roles, the two have royally angered many palace insiders in the process.
The two recently released a statement on their website in an attempt to clarify what is happening. They likely hoped to dispel some of the more outrageous rumors. The statement is fairly lengthy, but the two get right to the point. However, this direct approach is not enough for many people in the UK, who have taken to commenting and even lashing out about what they see as the pair's "ungracious" tone.
One insider reportedly commented, "Let’s just hope they feel they have got whatever they want to get out of their system." Another said that it appears that the two have "lost all sense of perspective."
Those are pretty loaded words … so let's look at what exactly is going on here.
Their statement begins by explaining that they are only just now able to really explain what's going on to people who support them. This is actually pretty remarkable because it feels like the two announced their dramatic departure only days ago. The royal family has clearly prioritized figuring out this transition.
- Their situation will be under review for 12 months.
- The royal family supports their decision to be independent.
- They will not draw from the Sovereign Grant to fund themselves.
- They will not undertake duties for the Queen.
And that sounds mostly like what the two wanted. There are a few disappointments for them, though. As part of their agreement, the Queen is not allowing Harry and Meghan to use "royal" in their branding moving forward, and the pair are expected to update their various accounts and platforms following spring 2020. They will retain their HRH prefixes but will not actively use the titles.
Prince Harry also remains sixth in line to the throne, and the pair will still have a great security detail for themselves and for Archie. They are internationally recognized individuals, and given the degree of harassment and public interest they have garnered, it makes sense that they want to be protected. Prince Harry will also retain his military rank but will not use his military appointments.
Importantly, the two note that while they will not be working as active members of the royal family, Prince Harry will retain his role in the Invictus Games and will "continue his unwavering support to the military community in a non-official capacity." This was probably really important to Harry. The games were his baby, and he has demonstrated a commitment to the military for years.
So that's all more or less what people expected, right? It seems not being able to use "royal" in their branding was a bit of a blow, though, because Prince Harry and Meghan Markle devoted another section to the issue on the site. They state:
“As The Duke and Duchess will no longer be considered full-time working Members of The Royal Family, it was agreed that use of the word ‘Royal’ would need to be reviewed as it pertains to organisations associated with them in this new regard.”
They also added:
“As shared in early January on this website, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not plan to start a ‘foundation’, but rather intend to develop a new way to effect change and complement the efforts made by so many excellent foundations globally.
"The creation of this non-profit entity will be in addition to their cause driven work that they remain deeply committed to. While The Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word ‘Royal’, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation will not utilise the name ‘Sussex Royal’ or any other iteration of ‘Royal.’"
That the two used the phrasing "the specific UK government rules surrounding the use of the word 'royal'" is really a fascinating thing: They're trying to argue that the Royal Family has no jurisdiction over the word outside the UK. Which … kind of makes sense when you really think about it. They aren't the only royals in the world, and the British royalty can't own a word as ubiquitous as that one.
However, it's exactly this language that has frustrated so many royal insiders. Ingrid Seward, who is the editor in chief of the magazine Majesty, is particularly affronted. She explained: "‘It appears to be a gratuitous and ungracious swipe at the Queen. It is kind of saying, ‘By the way we know we can use royal if we want to’. The Queen is doing everything she can to keep the peace, but the Sussexes believe the Royal Family is against them. The more you read it, the nastier it appears."
And it's worth reading the pair's exact wording:
“While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word ‘Royal’ overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ or any iteration of the word ‘Royal’ in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020.”
Really, it seems that this is all becoming an argument about what the monarchy can and can't control once Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are more independent — but it's also about what Prince Harry, in particular, should reasonably expect. It's one thing to detach yourself from your family of origin, and it's quite another to detach yourself from a giant institution that has existed for a really long time.
It's clear that the two were very careful with their phrasing and were striving to be as fact-based as possible. Because, hello: It is a fact that the Queen can't control the use of the word royal outside of England. But it's also worth considering that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren't your average citizens trying to use a word. They were royal, and in the eyes of many, always will be, whatever their exact position is at any given moment.
The transition phase was always going to be a little messy for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the same press that hounded them while they lived in the UK is likely feeling extra irate that they decided to leave. It's no wonder that they're taking issue with what Harry and Meghan are doing — and who knows if they'll ever really stop.
