Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are being accused of playing royals on their own terms — and sidestepping the late Queen Elizabeth II's wishes in the process.
asserted
Harry → accuse → process
On Oct. 15, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are scheduled to visit Nottingham for their first joint public appearance since returning to the U.K., Fox News Digital confirmed.
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Digital → schedule → U.K.
The city holds special significance for the couple, as it was the first place they visited after announcing their engagement in November 2017.
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they → hold → November
Kinsey Schofield, host of the YouTube show "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," told Fox News Digital that, based on her sources, "there is frustration" inside Buckingham Palace as Harry and Meghan prepare to visit several charities in a manner resembling an official royal engagement.
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Harry → tell → engagement
"Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family," Schofield said.
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Schofield → work → family
"King Charles recently reminded his government that the Sussexes are private citizens.
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Sussexes → remind → government
The Sussexes appear increasingly determined to recreate the optics of royal life without the responsibilities that come with it. …
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that → appear → it
It’s royal theatre without royal authority.
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It → ’ → authority
"Royal engagements aren't just photo opps," Schofield said.
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Schofield → say → ?
Working royals represent the sovereign, strengthen relationships and serve the interests of the country.
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royals → work → country
Harry and Meghan appear more interested in faking the image of royalty than embracing its purpose.
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Harry → appear → purpose
They can imitate the engagement, but they can't replicate the authority or constitutional significance.
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they → imitate → authority
"
"They are pushing to reclaim the spotlight they left behind," British broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News Digital.
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Chard → push → Digital
WATCH: PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE CAUSED QUEEN STRESS IN FINAL YEARS:
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HARRY → watch → YEARS
In January 2020, Queen Elizabeth II drew a firm line at the Sandringham Summit: There would be no "half in, half out" role for the Sussexes.
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II → draw → Sussexes
They couldn't remain working members of the royal family while pursuing independent, income-generating ventures.
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They → remain → ventures
The couple stepped back from royal duties that year, citing intrusive coverage by the British press and a lack of support from the palace.
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couple → step → palace
"Following conversations with the duke, the queen has written confirming that in 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 said in a statement on Feb. 19, 2021.
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Palace → follow → Feb.
In response, the couple issued a statement of their own, saying: "We can all live a life of service.
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We → issue → service
In Nottingham, the couple will focus on charitable work.
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couple → focus → work
People magazine reported that they will visit a food bank, where Meghan intends to reconnect with some of the women she supported at the Hubb Community Kitchen in London.
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she → report → London
As a working royal, Meghan helped produce "Together: Our Community Cookbook," which featured recipes from women associated with the kitchen.
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which → work → kitchen
The outlet also reported that they will visit the Community Recording Studio, which helps young people affected by violence, and spend time at Epic Partners, which supports young people through mentoring and sports.
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which → report → mentoring
Although Harry and Meghan are free to support charities as private citizens, their visits are not official royal engagements, as they no longer represent the monarch.
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they → support → monarch
However, royal commentators argue that the couple's public appearances risk blurring that distinction.
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appearances → argue → distinction
"The Sussexes have not been given permission to behave like working royals, and yet they seem to have gone ahead with their own plans to recapture the spotlight in the U.K.," Christopher Andersen, author of "Kate!," told Fox News Digital.
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Andersen → give → Digital
"These are worthy causes that the couple was supporting previously, so that obviously takes some of the sting out of it."
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that → support → it
Several royal experts told Fox News Digital that the couple's public appearances put King Charles in an increasingly uncomfortable position.
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appearances → tell → position
While Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals, their titles, global profile and carefully choreographed public appearances can still look strikingly similar to official royal duties, even though they do not carry the authority of the crown.
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they → work → crown
This, they argued, leaves the monarch to decide how firmly to enforce the boundary his late mother drew.
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mother → argue → boundary
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you → compensate → links
"King Charles faces a severe problem because Harry and Meghan appear determined to ignore the late queen's instructions," Schofield said.
"
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Schofield → face → instructions
They’ve retained their titles and international recognition, allowing them to stage appearances that resemble official engagements, despite no longer representing the crown.
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that → retain → crown
The king has demonstrated throughout his life that he can be decisive when protecting his interests and the institution.
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he → demonstrate → interests
The question is whether he’s prepared to demonstrate that same strength when it comes to his youngest son.
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it → ’ → son
"
"Queen Elizabeth was unequivocal," Schofield said.
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Schofield → say → ?
If Harry and Meghan are determined to recreate that arrangement through the back door, Charles may eventually have to remind them why the front door was closed."
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door → determine → them
Andersen noted that the king is "weary of having to deal with all this drama" and of being "a sort of referee between his sons."
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king → note → sons
However, Andersen said, the king may ultimately have little choice but to act if the Sussexes continue to blur the line between private citizens and working royals.
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Sussexes → say → citizens
"Anything that looks like an official royal engagement will definitely be interpreted as defying the monarch’s wishes, pure and simple," Andersen warned.
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Andersen → look → wishes
…and 16 more, not listed.
The Aporia
