UNBELIEVABLE! Prince Harry goes ‘frankly insane’ with ‘private citizens’ title
Prince Harry has come under fresh criticism over his reaction to being described as a “private citizen” following Buckingham Palace’s clarification of his and Meghan Markle’s status after their return to Britain.
The latest dispute stems from a letter issued at King Charles’ direction, which reaffirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not working members of the Royal Family and continue to operate independently despite now living in the UK again.
The wording appears to have become a particular source of frustration for the Sussexes, with reports suggesting they would rather be regarded as “public figures” than private citizens.
That distinction has now drawn criticism from commentator Samara Gill, who questioned how it fits with the couple’s previous emphasis on privacy after stepping away from senior royal duties.
Speaking during a discussion with News24 host Danica De Giorgio, Gill argued that the situation exposed what she described as a “privacy paradox”.
“The privacy paradox of it all is quite frankly insane,” she said.
Commentator Questions Sussexes’ Position on Privacy
Gill pointed back to the period after Harry and Meghan left royal duties, when the couple moved to California and sought greater control over their personal lives.
In her view, their later media projects complicated that message.
She referenced the couple’s use of Instagram, their Netflix work, Meghan’s podcast projects and Harry’s memoir Spare as examples of how they continued to share details of their lives publicly.
Gill argued that this made the current objection to being described as private citizens harder to understand.
She claimed that Harry and Meghan had previously presented themselves as wanting distance from royal scrutiny, but were now resisting terminology that formally separates them from the working monarchy.
The criticism comes as tensions between the Sussexes and Buckingham Palace remain elevated following their return to Britain.
‘Public Figures’ Description Sparks New Debate
Reports have suggested that Harry and Meghan would prefer to be described as “public figures”, while still being recognised personally as members of the Royal Family.
Gill seized on that distinction, arguing that the change in language appeared inconsistent with the couple’s earlier position.
“Now, the King has told them that, they’re backtracking,” she said, claiming they now wanted to be viewed more like public celebrities.
She also criticised the amount of media briefing surrounding the Sussexes only a short time after their arrival back in the UK.
Gill referred to reports involving The Telegraph and suggested that communication with journalists was already becoming part of the renewed tensions between Harry, Meghan and the Palace.
Her comments remain her own interpretation of the situation, but they highlight the wider debate now surrounding the Sussexes’ public role.
The couple stepped away from senior royal duties in 2020 and spent the following six years based in California, where they pursued commercial, charitable and media projects independently from the monarchy.
Their move back to Britain has not altered that formal arrangement.
Buckingham Palace’s recent guidance was intended to remove uncertainty by making clear that Harry and Meghan do not act on behalf of the sovereign and remain outside the group of working royals.
For Harry, however, the phrase “private citizens” has become one of the most contentious parts of the Palace’s message.
And with commentators now revisiting the Sussexes’ long-running relationship with privacy and publicity, what might have appeared to be a technical clarification over royal status has instead become another flashpoint in their increasingly strained relationship with the Palace.
