A YouGov poll conducted among 4,506 adults in the UK reveals that a majority of Britons prefer Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to remain private citizens, with 51% stating they would rather the couple did not return to official royal duties.
Only 16% of respondents expressed a desire for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to resume their roles as working members of the Royal Family. The poll, which was conducted on the same day Buckingham Palace released a letter confirming the couple's status as private citizens, also found that 33% of Britons were undecided.
The Palace's letter, issued on behalf of King Charles, stated that the situation for Harry and Meghan had not changed since their departure from royal duties. The communication emphasized that their current position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests, aligning with the 'Sandringham Summit' agreement from 2020. This clarification aimed to provide certainty ahead of a busy schedule for the Sussexes and potentially facilitate private meetings with the King.
However, sources close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex indicated they were surprised by the release of the letter, claiming they had limited time to respond. Reports suggest that the couple took issue with being labeled strictly as private citizens, preferring the term "public figures." They reportedly desired an acknowledgment of their continued status as members of the Royal Family, despite no longer receiving public funding. Team Sussex suggested the letter's timing and content may have been an attempt to influence a security review body.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter, considering the released letter sufficient. Insiders, however, suggested that the Sussexes' insistence on being recognized as "public figures" while also wanting to maintain royal ties indicates the unsustainability of a "half-in, half-out" model alongside their commercial ventures.