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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly want to be described as “public figures,” not private citizens. That reaction came after King Charles reiterated their status as non-working royals in a letter sent to British officials. The letter, sent on September 7, said Harry and Markle remain outside the working royal family. 

Their position is “akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.” However, the couple’s camp wasn’t happy with the wording. A source close to them told People, “They are public figures. Members of the public know who they are. The idea that they can live a normal, ‘private’ life is sadly not realistic.” 

The Sussexes’ spokesperson also said they “were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.” The letter came from Lord Benyon, the Lord Chamberlain, on the King’s behalf. It went to senior government and military officials, Lord Lieutenants and other senior figures. It also restated that Harry and Markle won’t use the HRH styles. 

Royal sources disputed the couple’s complaint about the timing. They said Harry and Markle knew about the letter before it went public. Their team reportedly saw it just over an hour before its release. Harry and Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020. In 2021, Buckingham Palace confirmed they would not return as working members of the royal family.

Their honorary military appointments and royal patronages also returned to the Queen. However, Harry is still the Duke of Sussex. Markle also remains the Duchess of Sussex. Meanwhile, on September 9, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that Uganda would pull out of the 2027 Invictus Games.

Kainerugaba, Uganda’s military chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, said the country did not want its decision to look like opposition to Charles. “In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games,” he wrote on X. “We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval.”

He also took an aim at Harry and Markle. Kainerugaba said factions within Uganda’s defense ministry supported “that Harry-Meghan nonsense.” He added that he had to “quash it straight away.” Uganda had joined the Invictus community only in July. It became the 26th nation to join and the first from East Africa. Harry had welcomed Uganda into the Games in London.

But now, it has withdrawn. Sources close to Harry reportedly believe the King’s guidance played a role in Uganda’s decision. Some critics have also questioned whether Harry and Markle should have addressed their past fallout with the royal family before returning to the U.K.

According to The Sun, Harry owed Charles “a very public apology” before coming home. The official royal family’s website still has a page for Harry and Markle. It described them as having “stepped back as working members” while continuing their Sussex titles and family details. 

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