SHOCK: Prince Harry and Meghan’s new title request as they reject ‘private citizens’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly pushed back against being described as “private citizens” as they settle into life in Britain, instead preferring a label that better reflects their continued connection to the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to want to be known as “public figures” following King Charles III’s decision to formally clarify their position after their return to the UK.
Harry and Meghan moved back to Britain in late August and are reportedly building a new life in Oxfordshire with their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, who are said to be enrolled in local schools.
Their return has reignited debate over exactly where the couple now sit in relation to the monarchy.
That question was addressed in a letter sent by the King to senior government and military officials, making clear that Harry and Meghan remain outside the group of working royals.
Charles also confirmed that the couple will continue not to use the formal His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness styles, in keeping with the arrangement established after they stepped back from official duties in 2020.
Any charitable work carried out by the Sussexes, the letter said, would be undertaken in a “private capacity.”
Why the Sussexes Prefer ‘Public Figures’
The wording appears to have caused unease.
According to reports from several UK outlets, Harry and Meghan would rather be described as “public figures” than private citizens.
A briefing note from the couple, cited by the Daily Mail, reportedly said the phrase would “acknowledge that, on a personal level, they remained members of the Royal Family, despite no longer receiving public funding.”
The reported preference does not amount to a request to return to royal duties, nor does it suggest the couple are seeking to regain the formal working status they gave up six years ago.
Instead, the dispute centers on how their position should be described now that they are back living in the UK while remaining outside the official royal structure.
The timing of Charles’s letter also appears to have frustrated the Sussexes.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said they “were a little surprised not to have been told about” the letter “in advance.”
Insiders claimed their team had only around an hour to review the contents before the document became public.
Harry, who was in a meeting in London at the time, was reportedly difficult to reach and is said to have had only two minutes to read the letter before its publication.
Their New UK Life Remains Under Scrutiny
The disagreement comes as Harry and Meghan continue adjusting to life back in Britain.
While Harry has already been seen in public, Meghan has yet to make a public appearance since the family’s return.
She has, however, reportedly visited Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, the private members’ club known for attracting high-profile guests including the Beckhams and Paul McCartney.
The couple are said to be staying in the same part of the country as they begin the next stage of their family life.
Their move back to Britain has naturally intensified attention around everything from their children’s schooling to their relationship with the wider Royal Family.
That scrutiny has also placed fresh focus on the language used to describe them.
For Buckingham Palace, the formal position appears straightforward: Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals and any official activity they carry out is done privately.
For the Sussexes, reports suggest the phrase “public figures” better captures the unusual position they now occupy.
They may no longer represent the Crown, receive public funding or perform royal duties, but they remain members of the Royal Family and continue to attract significant public attention.
The Express said it had contacted both Buckingham Palace and representatives for Harry and Meghan for comment.
For now, the disagreement over two seemingly simple words has become another sign of how complicated the Sussexes’ return to Britain could prove.
