B0MBSHELL: Harry And Meghan Hit With Blunt Criticism Over Fresh King Charles Row
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have come under fresh criticism over the dispute surrounding their status in Britain, with royal author Dickie Arbiter accusing the Sussexes’ team of making the situation worse.
The former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II spoke out after guidance issued on behalf of King Charles referred to Harry and Meghan as “private citizens” following their return to the UK.
Appearing on GB News, Arbiter argued that the couple and those around them had turned the wording into a much bigger issue than necessary.
“The rumble started when they arrived back in England without anybody knowing,” he told presenter Camilla Tominey.
He then pointed to the Lord Chamberlain’s letter, issued on behalf of the King, which described the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as private citizens rather than working members of the monarchy.
According to Arbiter, the response from the Sussex camp has only fuelled the row.
“Their team are winding them up, telling them they’re not private citizens, they’re public figures,” he said.
Arbiter Says Public Should Decide Their Status
Arbiter rejected the suggestion that Harry and Meghan should determine whether they are regarded as public figures.
“That’s for the public to decide, not them,” he said.
He argued that the purpose of the Palace guidance was simply to underline the couple’s current position following their departure from royal duties.
Arbiter described the message as meaning they no longer operate as working members of the Royal Family and therefore should be treated as private citizens in an official capacity.
His remarks add another layer to an increasingly public disagreement over how Harry and Meghan should be described now that they are living in Britain again while remaining outside the working monarchy.
The couple have reportedly been surprised by the guidance, while figures close to them have pushed back against the way their position has been characterised.
Row Compared With Charles and Diana Era
During the GB News discussion, Tominey asked Arbiter whether the current briefing battle reminded him of the tensions surrounding Charles and Diana during their marriage.
Arbiter, who worked as Charles’s press secretary during that period, admitted there were similarities.
“It reminds me a little bit,” he said.
However, he criticised the current response from the Sussex side, claiming there had been “all sorts” of pushback after the Lord Chamberlain’s letter emerged.
He also recalled that during the period of tension between Charles and Diana, friends sometimes spoke publicly on their behalf.
According to Arbiter, Diana was less concerned about such interventions, while Charles eventually told his own friends to stop speaking out.
Invictus Games Drawn Into Dispute
The argument over the Palace guidance has also become linked to the Invictus Games.
A source close to Harry claimed the letter may have contributed to Uganda’s decision to withdraw from the sporting event.
The source told ITV that the guidance had been issued without consultation and argued that the consequences would ultimately be felt by Invictus competitors.
Uganda’s withdrawal was later confirmed by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of the country’s president and its chief of defence.
He said Uganda did not want its participation to be interpreted as opposition to King Charles and therefore would no longer take part in the Games.
That claim has intensified scrutiny around the Palace letter, although the suggestion that the guidance directly caused Uganda’s withdrawal comes from those close to Harry rather than from Buckingham Palace.
The dispute now appears to have moved beyond a simple argument over terminology.
For Harry and Meghan, the phrase “private citizens” has become tied to questions over their public work, charitable activities and their relationship with the monarchy.
For Arbiter, however, the issue is far more straightforward.
His view is that the Palace has already made the couple’s official status clear, and that continued arguments over whether they should instead be described as public figures are only creating more unnecessary drama.
With both sides continuing to brief publicly, the debate surrounding Harry and Meghan’s role in Britain shows little sign of disappearing.
