A source close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle claimed that they don’t like the term “working members of the royal family.” They said that the couple aren’t working for the institution but have their own lives centered around family and their professional work. These comments come after the Sussexes’ first public charity engagement together in the UK.
Insider reveals The Sussexes’ reaction to being called ‘working royal members’
A friend of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told The Times that the Sussexes consider “working members of the royal family” a “lazy phrase.” According to the source, neither Harry nor Meghan simply dislikes the term; they reportedly hate it.
“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,” the friend added.
The source also revealed that the couple takes issue with being described as “former royals.” Explaining their stance, the insider said, “Things like Nottingham aren’t done in the name of the institution or the crown, but 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 source further argued that it’s “misleading” to use the label, claiming it influences how the Sussexes are perceived and discussed.
Harry and Markle recently visited three charitable organizations in Nottingham: Community Recording Studio, Himmah Food Bank, and Epic Partners. However, royal expert Kinsey Schofield recently accused the couple of recreating the kind of charity visits typically associated with working royals, despite Buckingham Palace recently describing them as private individuals.
The palace has also clarified that the Sussexes’ charitable activities are personal endeavors and are not carried out on behalf of the royal family. Harry and Markle reportedly took issue with the description “private individuals,” as they would prefer to be recognized as public figures.
Their latest charity visits came more than a month after their return to the UK, once again drawing attention to their relationship with the royal family and their continued public roles.
