Prince Harry's 'clear' message to Royal Family about being controlled
Prince Harry's 'clear' message to Royal Family about being controlled
Hannah Furnell Mon, September 14, 2026 at 4:33 AM UTC
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Prince Harry has sent a "very clear" message to the Royal Family in the weeks since he and Meghan Markle returned to the U.K.
In late August, the Duke, 41, and Duchess of Sussex, 45, relocated back to the U.K. with their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. Just days later, on September 7, as the family was reportedly settling in the Cotswolds, near London, King Charles issued a letter confirming that the couple would remain non-working royals.
A day later, Uganda pulled out of Harry's 2027 Invictus Games "in order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty," General Muhoozi Mainerugaba wrote on X. Sources quickly claimed to People that the Sussexes blame the 77-year-old monarch, but now insiders have told Closer Weekly that Harry and Meghan have made it clear that they won't be controlled by the Palace.
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Uganda's move was a "direct result" of the guidance issued by Charles, a source close to Harry told People. The source said, "They made it very clear that the reason they pulled out was a direct result of perceived guidance from the Lord Chamberlain."
They continued, "This was an unintended or intended consequence of the letter - and that was always going to happen. Hence the wish not to rush it out."
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have warned that they won't be controlled by the Royal Family, sources claim (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
"Harry is very clear that he and Meghan will not be controlled by the palace," a separate source told Closer. "He doesn't see why they can't support the causes they care about and use their profile to make an impact, without having to answer to the royal machine or follow all the old rules and protocols."
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan issued a rare statement to the BBC, stating they were "a little surprised not to have been told about [the letter] in advance."
"In his view, there's no reason they can't be independent and still have a prominent role in public life," the source added. "The issue, of course, is that he and Meghan have been told from the start they can't have it both ways and this does feel dangerously close to him being allowed to bulldoze past the decision set out by" the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, issued the letter on Charles's behalf as formal guidance after officials received a "number of requests" for clarification regarding the couple's royal status.
It was sent to senior government and military officials, as well as to lord lieutenants, the King's personal representatives across the country. In the letter, the Lord Chamberlain said it is "well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of The Royal Family."
King Charles sent a letter confirming Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal statuses (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The document explained that this position will "continue to be fully respected," adding, "There is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex."
Meanwhile, all of Harry and Meghan's charitable work is a "personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity." It added, "In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests."
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The letter further stated that all correspondence and administrative questions relating to the couple should be sent directly to their office, "which will continue to operate separately from The Royal Household."
Charles' letter reinforces the arrangement established when Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in January 2020, citing intense scrutiny from the British press and lack of support from the palace. They also yearned for independence to grow their brand.
The terms of Harry and Meghan's exit were finalized during the Sandringham Summit, which was presided over by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that Queen Elizabeth drew a firm line before the couple's exit, insisting the Sussexes could not be "half in, half out" as working royals.
"Her position was simply stated as 'all in or all out,'" Fordwich said. "While King Charles has maintained that position, he is likely to be more open to private reconciliation and family gatherings, especially if Harry refrains from further public attacks on the family. Prince William, however, remains resistant to any formal restoration of royal duties for Harry."
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to the U.K. last month (Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS.com)
In his memoir Spare, Harry recalled the Sandringham meeting and wrote that he believed the royals would consider five options for him and his wife.
"Option Five" required a full departure. After about an hour, the queen's private secretary - nicknamed "The Bee" by Harry - issued drafts of a statement announcing "Option Five." Harry was stunned.
"Wait. I'm confused," he wrote. "You've already drafted a statement? Before any discussion? Announcing Option Five? In other words, the fix was in this whole time? This summit was just for show?"
Besides the letter, Charles and the Royal Family have not publicly acknowledged Harry and Meghan's return. Former royal butler Grant Harrold believes there are some hefty reasons for that.
Harrold, who worked for Charles at Highgrove between 2004 and 2011, told The Express US on behalf of OLBG that he doesn't think the King should issue a personal message to welcome Harry and Meghan back to the U.K.
Charles' letter was more important, as it was a "warning" to Harry and Meghan. He said, "I think he put out the letter as a bit of a warning to Harry and Meghan. He wants to remind them that they walked away; it was their choice. He also wants to remind them of what the late Queen said back in 2020, and the decision she made."
Besides the letter, Harrold thinks Charles will likely remain quiet about the Sussexes' return for several reasons, but mostly out of concern that doing so would divide the country.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
