A month into their U.K. return, the royal family remains uncertain about what Harry and Meghan are trying to accomplish. On September 16, a palace source told People magazine: "The royal family still don't know what their motives are," highlighting the tension surrounding the couple's relocation from California, where they had lived for six years.
The uncertainty matters because it signals a fundamental breakdown in communication between the palace and the couple. Royal experts are divided on whether the palace is justified in its stance or overstepping boundaries. Some say the intervention was necessary to reaffirm that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens and will not resume a "half-in, half-out" royal role, while others argue the palace is undermining their return.
King Charles responded with a letter through the Lord Chamberlain stating that Harry and Meghan would be classified as non-working royals. Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that this letter was unnecessary and created "humiliation for the couple." Turner said Harry and Meghan want privacy to protect their children and cover charity activities, but the palace is preventing them from creating royal-style events. British royal expert Hilary Fordwich countered that the letter was simply a clarification of the agreement Harry and Meghan made when they stepped away as senior royals in 2020.
The couple's team pushed back against wording in the palace letter describing them as "private citizens" rather than "public figures," according to Newsweek. A years-long rift with Prince William persists, with Harry saying he is not on speaking terms with his brother; their last time together was Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022.