Prince Harry, Meghan Markle accused of staging 'royal theatre' as King Charles faces new dilemma: expert

Harry and Meghan return to Nottingham for charity visits, sparking debate over royal roles

Oct. 15 – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Nottingham for their first joint public appearance in the United Kingdom since they stepped back from working duties in 2020. The pair are scheduled to visit a local food bank, the Community Recording Studio, and Epic Partners, a youth‑mentoring charity, in what officials say are private‑citizen charity events rather than official royal engagements.

The visit is notable not only because it marks the Sussexes’ first shared public outing in the UK, but also because it comes amid growing concern that their appearances could blur the line between private citizens and working royals. Experts quoted by the news outlet say the couple’s planned visits risk confusing the public and the monarchy about the nature of their role.

A brief history of the Sussexes’ departure from royal duties

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement in November 2017, the couple’s future activities were still largely defined by their royal obligations. In 2020, during the Sandringham Summit, Queen Elizabeth II drew a firm line: members of the royal family could not have a “half‑in, half‑out” role. “If stepping away from the work of the royal family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service,” Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement on Feb. 19 2021.

The couple stepped back from their official duties that same year, citing intrusive press coverage and a perceived lack of palace support. In response, they released a statement: “We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”

What the Nottingham visit will entail

According to reports, the Sussexes will focus on charitable work. The food bank they will visit is linked to the Hubb Community Kitchen in London, where Meghan previously worked. She helped produce the “Together: Our Community Cookbook,” which features recipes from women associated with the kitchen. The Community Recording Studio, which assists young people affected by violence, and Epic Partners, a program that supports youth through mentoring and sports, will also be on the itinerary.

Although the couple is free to support charities as private citizens, their visits are not official royal engagements, a fact the palace has repeatedly stressed. “As private citizens, Harry and Meghan have the freedom to pursue their own projects without requiring the blessing of the king,” said royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner.

Expert reactions

YouTube host Kinsey Schofield, speaking to Fox News Digital, said the couple “are no longer working members of the royal family” and appear “increasingly determined to recreate the optics of royal life without the responsibilities that come with it.” She added that “It’s royal theatre without royal authority.” Schofield explained that royal engagements involve diplomacy, soft power and constitutional significance, something she believes the Sussexes can imitate but not replicate.

Helena Chard, a British broadcaster, described the visit as “a reboot— a pseudo royal reboot,” noting that the couple are “pushing to reclaim the spotlight they left behind.”

Author Christopher Andersen said the charity causes the Sussexes are visiting “were already ones they were supporting previously,” which “takes some of the sting out of it.” Andersen warned that any appearance “that looks like an official royal engagement” would be interpreted as defying the monarch’s wishes, citing the queen’s clear decree that members of the royal family must be either fully in or fully out.

Schofield echoed Andersen’s sentiment, saying that the late queen had been “unequivocal” that the Sussexes could not be “half in, half out.” She warned that King Charles could be forced to remind the couple why “the front door was closed.”

The king’s position

The Sussexes’ return to the UK has added to existing tensions between King Charles III and his son. While the king has not met with the Duke and Duchess in person since their return, he reportedly keeps in contact with Harry by phone. The couple’s visits, critics say, may place King Charles in an increasingly uncomfortable position as he tries to enforce the boundary his late mother set.

Ian Pelham Turner noted that as private citizens, the Sussexes “have the freedom to pursue their own projects without requiring the blessing of the king or the Prince of Wales.” He suggested that this could be both a blessing for the couple and a “curse” for those in royal circles who see the line between working royals and private citizens as blurred.

No official response from the palace

Neither Buckingham Palace nor the Sussexes’ charitable foundation, Archewell, issued a statement in response to the report. A source told People magazine that the Sussexes are “both excited to focus more on their work and the projects that matter to them.” The article also noted that while the couple reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla in July, it is unclear whether the king has seen them in person since the Sussexes returned to the UK.

Looking ahead

The Nottingham trip is the Sussexes’ first joint public appearance since their return, and it will be closely watched by royal watchers, the media and the public. Whether the visit will be seen as a genuine charity effort or a “pseudo royal” performance remains to be seen. The outcome