Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are “frustrated” with how King Charles worded his “deliberate” letter clarifying their status as royals.
The couple — who returned to the UK on Aug. 26 after resigning from their royal duties and moving to the US six years ago — has particularly taken issue with the request that they be treated as “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
Per The Telegraph, the Sussexes would prefer to be labeled as “public figures.”
Additionally, the couple would have liked an acknowledgement that, on a personal level, they remain members of the royal family, despite no longer receiving public funding.
Charles’ letter, released on Monday, was allegedly sent to the media without consulting the couple.
According to the outlet, the note was shared with the Sussexes’ office specifically at 1:59 pm UK time on Monday.
Royal insiders told the outlet that the monarch and his staff wanted to alert the Duke and Duchess before it was made public and were willing to “clarify one or two points.”
Exactly 20 minutes later, the pair’s staff responded, asking whether the note had already been sent out.
At 3:09 pm, aides reached Harry, who had been in a meeting, to inform him that a letter had been drafted and they wanted guidance on whether it had been distributed.
However, the letter had already been shared with the media three minutes earlier, unbeknownst to Harry and his team. They were alerted it had gone public at 3:11 pm.
Despite the couple’s dismay toward the letter, a royal insider argued, “It is merely making clear the continued position for the benefit of all parties.”
Sources close to Harry and Markle claim that the timing of the announcement was “deliberate” and was part of an effort to influence the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.
The committee, notably, was gearing up to discuss whether Harry, Markle and their two kids — Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — should be granted police protection.
However, palace sources strongly rejected the claim, per the Telegraph.
The family of four landed in the UK on Aug. 26, one week after Page Six confirmed they were moving back to England for an “extended period.”
Since then, Page Six has learned they enrolled their children in a ritzy $35,000-a-year prep school and have been house hunting in the Cotswolds near Charles’ residence.
Additionally, Page Six sources confirmed that Markle has broken cover and was seen having tea with a fellow mom at the SoHo Farmhouse, a members-only retreat.
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