Prince Harry and Meghan Markle warned of ‘long-term damage’ amid Palace back-and-forth

Thank you for subscribing!

Grant Harrold has warned the latest clash could damage the Duke of Sussex’s relationship with his father

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to respond to King Charles’s letter outlining what their roles will look like in the future could "cause long-term damage" and be a "step backwards" in the Duke of Sussex’s bid to repair relations with his father, a former royal butler has claimed.

Grant Harrold, who worked for the royals between 2007 and 2011, spoke exclusively to GB News about the back-and-forth playing out in the media between Buckingham Palace aides and the Sussexes' team.

On Monday, the Lord Chamberlain, at His Majesty’s direction, provided a letter to relevant senior stakeholders across Government, the military and Lord Lieutenancies to make clear the Sussexes' continued position as private individuals and not working royals.

GB News understands the letter was released to avoid any accusations of "secrecy" around its contents. The Lord Chamberlain’s letter was received by Prince Harry and Meghan at 1.59pm on Monday.

At 2.19pm, the Sussexes' team asked Buckingham Palace whether the "guidance had gone out already". At 3.09pm, Prince Harry was personally informed that a letter had been drafted and that his team were seeking guidance on whether the letter had been distributed.

At 3.11pm, it was confirmed that it had already been sent to the media. Sources close to the Sussexes told GB News that Harry and Meghan were “surprised” about the letter's distribution.

Speaking to GB News on behalf of OLBG, Mr Grant claimed Prince Harry’s response to the King's letter shows nothing has changed since the Sussexes last went head-to-head with the royals over the conditions of their position back in 2020.

Mr Harrold said: “This is exactly what happened six years ago, when Harry and Meghan first announced their intention to step back as working royals. It’s the Royal Family putting out one statement, then the Sussexes replying with another and so on. It’s basically repeating itself. They’ve come back into the country and just picked up where they left off.

“The fact the King has expressed how he sees the situation, and they’ve come out and said they see it differently, shows that things are far from sorted behind Palace walls. I think it’s going to be another war of words, and this is the battle lines being drawn up. I don’t think Harry and Meghan will back down.

“While relations had begun to improve between the King and his youngest son, this could really be a step backwards. I also think it will add fuel to William’s argument that Harry can’t be trusted, I imagine he will be saying ‘I told you so’.

“I also think it’s going to make things quite complicated and awkward for the officials. At the end of the day, he is a Counsellor of State, and he’s the son of the King. He is a senior member of the Royal Family; it’s just this ‘working’ part that’s become very confusing. We’ve never had something like this before. In the past, when people stopped being royal, they just stopped being royal - like King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.

“I don’t see how it’s going to be resolved. I think it will cause longer-term damage and put the King in a very hard position. It’s all just a mess, and I think it’s going to get worse.”

LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTS

The Lord Chamberlain's letter stated: "Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the UK, we have received a number of requests for Guidance. To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that the following information be shared.

"It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of The Royal Family.

"This position, distinct from the State and Royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.

"It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used. The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.

"In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests. Any specific questions from official and State organisations about the courtesies which should be extended to the Duke and Duchess, and particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace.

"Any operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant Police authorities.

"All correspondence and administrative questions relating to the couple should be sent directly to their office, which will continue to operate separately from The Royal Household."