Just when Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, were building bridges with King Charles, it’s action stations once again.
The Lord Chamberlain’s letter, on behalf of the King, emphasised in no uncertain terms that the Sussexes “are no longer working members of the Royal Family”. A spokesman for the Sussexes responded: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.” That is code for absolutely spitting blood.
It’s odds on there’s another blow-up coming between the Sussexes and the King. For all the supposed rapprochement, with the Sussexes visiting the King in the summer and moving back to Britain, the rift has never really closed. It certainly hasn’t with the Prince and Princess of Wales, who show no sign of being ready to welcome the Prodigal Son now that he’s back.
So, with that paper-thin reconciliation being stretched already, ill-feeling is bound to burst to the surface once more.
Harry never cared for the courtiers – “the men in grey suits”, as Diana, Princess of Wales, once described them- who run the Royal Household. But they are the ones who keep royal life here running smoothly, led by the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Benyon, a former Tory MP. Without the admin carried out by the Royal Household – and royal police protection (pending the decision of the relevant security committee) – Harry and Meghan will be extremely isolated and have to do a huge amount of work themselves. Next year’s Invictus Games in Birmingham, Harry’s greatest idea, will be a huge headache for him to help arrange.
