Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of using their recent UK appearances to reignite tensions with the Royal Family, with a royal commentator claiming the couple’s public activities may be about more than rebuilding family relationships.
Rob Shuter, citing unnamed insiders, suggested that the Sussexes’ return to the British spotlight has reopened old grievances, despite Harry’s recent public comments about wanting reconciliation with his estranged relatives.
“This isn’t about reconciliation anymore. It’s revenge,” one alleged royal insider told Shuter.
The source claimed that Harry and Meghan were aware their appearances could irritate Palace officials, adding that the reaction was allegedly part of the appeal. However, the accusation remains an unverified claim attributed to an unnamed source.
The couple’s relationship with the Royal Family has been strained since they stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States, with their subsequent interviews and public statements drawing repeated attention to their experiences within the institution.
Their grievances have included allegations of racism, disputes over their treatment by royal relatives, Meghan’s account of her mental health struggles and disagreements about the couple’s security arrangements.
Shuter has also previously reported that Harry and Meghan may be planning at least six further public appearances resembling traditional royal engagements, although those plans have not been officially confirmed.
An unnamed source cited in that report claimed the couple’s team was studying the format of official royal visits when planning their own activities.
“They’re treating the royal diary like an instruction manual,” the source alleged, describing the appearances as similar to royal engagements but conducted independently of the Palace.
The claim has fuelled debate about how the Sussexes’ public activities are perceived, particularly because they no longer undertake official duties on behalf of the Crown.
Harry remains a prince and he and Meghan retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, are also entitled to use the titles of prince and princess under the rules applicable to the monarch’s grandchildren.
However, retaining royal titles is distinct from representing the monarchy officially, and the Sussexes’ independent engagements should not be confused with duties carried out on behalf of the King.
Another alleged insider quoted by Shuter claimed the couple believe their royal identity remains part of who they are, regardless of whether the Palace supports their public activities.
The commentator also suggested that the late Queen Elizabeth II, who placed considerable emphasis on royal duty, might have viewed the situation differently. That interpretation is speculative, as the late monarch cannot confirm how she would have regarded the couple’s current activities.
The accusations contrast with Harry’s recent remarks to GQ, in which he said he wanted family relationships to improve and described reconciliation as important.
Neither Harry nor Meghan has publicly confirmed that their recent appearances are intended to provoke the Palace, and no official evidence establishes that revenge is their motivation.
For now, the Sussexes’ UK activities continue to generate debate over their relationship with the monarchy, while their intentions and the prospects for reconciliation remain uncertain.
