Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's year is busy with new Netflix projects, the Duchess' brand launch, film premieres, numerous visits and a "faux royal tour" under their belts. But amid the busy Sussex schedule, British royal courtiers are said to find the couple's constant output to be chaotic.
"Buckingham Palace would prefer that Harry and Meghan retire into quiet obscurity, but that is not going to happen," royal editor Tom Sykes dished. "They are private citizens, so they cannot be banned from going or not going anywhere."
"The idea of Harry and Meghan going on a world tour, to Australia or anywhere else, is the stuff of nightmares for Buckingham Palace because it effectively sets up a rival royal court," he added.
The expert highlighted how the pair are "private citizens" and can go "anywhere," but stopped short of including a Commonwealth realm, such as Australia, in which King Charles III is the head of state.
"The thing that is very important to remember is that while a small number of people who follow the royal story somewhat attentively understand that Harry and Meghan no longer officially represent the royal family, that distinction is lost on the vast majority of people who get their news on social media," he continued.
He pointed out how the California duo are just as royal as "Kate and William," and "if anything, they are significantly more interesting," the editor further observed since the pair have no difficulty in causing controversy and living the part of royal rebels.
In terms of tried and true royalty, the expert's observations about the couple's stature are fact since Harry and Meghan are still HRH and fully titled members of the British monarchy. However, the Prince and Princess of Wales do outrank Team Sussex in terms of royal precedence.
This insight comes amid reports reflecting the ex-working royals' stance they are not solely to blame for the rift with the future king and queen. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams recently shared: "You never know what may happen," when speaking about a possible end to the long-running feud. "I think it's abundantly clear that any rift is undesirable, and when individuals are ill who are involved in it, it makes it even more undesirable."
He added: "The problem with any rift is that it leads to deep mutual mistrust. Harry and Meghan were deeply unhappy as senior working members of the royal family. He believed they were due an apology for the way Meghan in particular was treated."
Meghan reportedly has not set foot in the United Kingdom since Elizabeth II's State Funeral on September 19, 2022. The Duke of Sussex is said to be torn between his homeland and his new life in California.
Daily Express reported on Sykes' remarks.