Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Accused of Staging 'Royal Theatre'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing accusations of staging "royal theatre" by conducting a visit to Nottingham that experts say closely resembles an official royal engagement, potentially presenting a new challenge for King Charles.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are scheduled to visit Nottingham on Oct. 15 for their first joint public appearance in the U.K. since their return. The city holds particular significance for the couple, as it was their first joint visit after announcing their engagement in November 2017.

Kinsey Schofield, host of the YouTube show "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," told Fox News Digital that sources within Buckingham Palace express frustration over the Sussexes' upcoming visits to charities, which she described as an imitation of royal engagements.

"Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family," Schofield stated. "King Charles recently reminded his government that the Sussexes are private citizens. The Sussexes appear increasingly determined to recreate the optics of royal life without the responsibilities that come with it. ... The charitable visits, the appearances, the photographers. It’s royal theatre without royal authority."

British broadcaster Helena Chard echoed this sentiment, telling Fox News Digital, "They are pushing to reclaim the spotlight they left behind. It's definitely a reboot — a pseudo royal reboot."

In January 2020, Queen Elizabeth II established a firm boundary at the Sandringham Summit, ruling out a "half in, half out" role for the Sussexes. This meant they could not remain working members of the royal family while pursuing independent, income-generating ventures. The couple stepped back from royal duties that year, citing intrusive press coverage and a lack of support from the palace.

Buckingham Palace confirmed this decision in a statement on Feb. 19, 2021, stating, "Following conversations with the duke, the queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the royal family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service."

In Nottingham, Harry and Meghan are slated to focus on charitable work. According to People magazine, they will visit a food bank, where Meghan plans to reconnect with women she supported at the Hubb Community Kitchen in London. While a working royal, Meghan helped produce "Together: Our Community Cookbook," which featured recipes from women connected to the kitchen. The couple also plans to visit the Community Recording Studio, which assists young people affected by violence, and spend time at Epic Partners, an organization supporting youth through mentoring and sports.

Although Harry and Meghan are free to support charities as private citizens, royal commentators argue that their public appearances risk blurring the lines between their current status and that of working royals. These appearances do not represent the monarch, despite the Sussexes retaining their titles.

Christopher Andersen, author of "Kate!," told Fox News Digital that the couple is "pushing to reclaim the spotlight they left behind." He added, "These are worthy causes that the couple was supporting previously, so that obviously takes some of the sting out of it."

Several royal experts have suggested that the couple's public appearances place King Charles in a challenging position. While Harry and Meghan are no longer official working royals, their titles and public profile can create an appearance similar to official royal duties, even without the crown's authority. This situation prompts the question of how firmly the King will enforce the boundaries set by his late mother.

Schofield noted that King Charles faces a significant problem as Harry and Meghan appear intent on disregarding Queen Elizabeth's directives. "They’ve retained their titles and international recognition, allowing them to stage appearances that resemble official engagements, despite no longer representing the crown," Schofield said. "The king has demonstrated throughout his life that he can be decisive when protecting his interests and the institution. The question is whether he’s prepared to demonstrate that same strength when it comes to his youngest son."

Andersen suggested that the king may feel compelled to act if the Sussexes continue to blur the lines between private citizens and working royals, stating, "Anything that looks like an official royal engagement will definitely be interpreted as defying the monarch’s wishes, pure and simple. The queen’s decree was that members of the royal family are either all in or all out. And the king is determined to fulfill his mother’s wishes."

Ian Pelham Turner, a royal broadcaster, commented that as private citizens, Harry and Meghan are free to pursue their own projects. "There are suspicions that Harry and Meghan are trying to create an alternative royal family," he said. "Their first joint event together has raised eyebrows in some royal circles. But as they are now private citizens, 'The Firm' have very little, if any, power over them. This, in some ways, could be a blessing for Harry and Meghan and a curse for those in royal circles."

Schofield added that the Sussexes cannot control the palace's reaction, especially if there is a perception that their actions disrespect the late queen. "What should concern the king is the growing frustration among royal supporters who want to see him take a more assertive approach towards his youngest son and daughter-in-law," she said.

"After years of telling the world how miserable royal life made them, they’re desperately returning to the very formula they abandoned," Schofield reflected. "Hollywood was supposed to offer them something bigger and better. Instead, they appear to be discovering that the royal connection was their greatest asset all along."