Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly object to the term ‘working members of the royal family’, with a friend of the couple describing it as a “lazy” label.
The phrase is traditionally used to refer to royals who carry out official engagements on behalf of the monarchy. However, Harry and Meghan are said to take issue with the distinction, arguing that they remain members of the royal family while pursuing their own professional commitments.
The couple, who undertook their first joint public engagements since returning to the UK in Nottingham last week, reportedly believe the term fails to reflect their working lives.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, a friend said: “‘Working members of the royal family’ is a really lazy phrase. He hates it, she hates it.
“They are not ‘working’ for the institution but they are members of the royal family and they work. Their days are built around their family life and their work. She’s running a business seven days a week.”
The friend added: “Things like Nottingham aren’t done in the name of the institution or the crown, but Harry is the son of the King, he is still a member of the royal family, he’s just not a member of the institution. It’s misleading to call them ‘former royals’. It has an impact on how they’re perceived and the way people talk about them.”
The comments are likely to further escape tension between Harry and Meghan and the royal family.
Reactions
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“Former royals Prince Harry & Meghan Markle don’t like being called former royals. Henceforth always reference the dimwitted drippy dunce & the mendacious meddling menace as former royals. The former royals will then thus get a little more upset. Diddums for the former royals.”
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