Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Accused of Finally Living Their ‘Half-In, Half-Out’ Royal Dream
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of finally getting the ‘half-in, half-out’ royal arrangement they once wanted, with a royal commentator claiming their latest activities closely resemble the very setup Queen Elizabeth II refused to approve.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the UK in August, reportedly hoping to begin a fresh chapter that would allow them to spend an extended period reconnecting with Britain and their royal roots alongside Archie and Lilibet.
During their visit, the couple carried out a series of engagements in Nottingham, with their activities resembling traditional royal outings focused on charitable work and community support.
However, their approach has sparked fresh criticism from royal commentator Duncan Larcombe, who believes the Sussexes are now doing precisely what the late Queen had previously rejected.
Speaking to New! Magazine, Larcombe suggested that Harry and Meghan have continued to benefit from their royal connections despite stepping away from their official positions as senior working royals in 2020.
“They have cashed in on their royal status, making tens of millions of pounds by selling out the royal brand – a brand that is usually tightly controlled and carefully orchestrated,” he claimed.
The commentator argued that the couple’s activities have created a situation in which they can maintain the advantages of their royal identities while operating independently from the traditional restrictions placed on working members of the Royal Family.
According to Larcombe, this is precisely why their current position has attracted criticism from those who believe the Sussexes are crossing boundaries established when they left the institution. He also suggested that Prince William has understandable reasons to be unhappy with his estranged brother’s approach.
The Prince of Wales has maintained his royal responsibilities alongside Princess Kate, while Harry and Meghan have pursued their own charitable, commercial and public projects in the United States.
Larcombe was particularly critical of what he sees as the couple’s ability to combine independent activities with the attention traditionally associated with official royal engagements. “They are riding roughshod over those rules. You couldn’t ask for a clearer example of ‘half-in, half-out,'” the royal commentator said.
He acknowledged that some people might argue Harry and Meghan are simply private individuals carrying out charitable work, but insisted their circumstances are different because of the extraordinary public attention they continue to receive.
“Some might claim they are just private individuals doing charitable work, but no other private individuals get this level of media coverage,” he added.
The debate surrounding the Sussexes’ relationship with the monarchy has continued since their departure from royal duties, particularly because Harry has repeatedly expressed his desire to maintain connections with Britain.
Their latest UK activities have therefore revived questions about whether the couple can maintain a meaningful connection to royal life without returning to their former official positions.
For now, the claims remain Larcombe’s interpretation of the Sussexes’ activities, rather than an official assessment by Buckingham Palace.
Nevertheless, his comments have once again brought the controversial ‘half-in, half-out’ arrangement back into the spotlight, highlighting the continuing divide over Harry and Meghan’s place in the royal world.
