Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'Private Citizen' Status Sparks Debate

Sources close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are contesting King Charles's recent guidance that labels them as "private citizens" following their return to the United Kingdom. The guidance, issued by the Lord Chamberlain on September 7, states that their positions are now akin to those of private individuals.

However, sources speaking to People magazine argue that Harry and Markle are undeniably public figures. They contend that if the couple were merely private citizens, the Lord Chamberlain would not have needed to issue formal guidance. "Members of the public know who they are. The idea that they can live a normal, ‘private’ life is sadly not realistic," one source stated.

Kinsey Schofield, host of "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," addressed the notion that living as private citizens is unrealistic for the Sussexes. She clarified that being a private citizen in this context simply means not representing the King. "The jobs you accept and the responsibilities you take, you take them on as yourself, not the crown," Schofield explained.

Schofield drew a parallel to Princess Anne's children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, who do not hold royal titles but have built lives outside the working monarchy while remaining recognizable and participating in royal events. "They choose not to," Schofield said of Harry and Meghan. "In my opinion, you can't repeatedly feed the publicity machine and then complain about a lack of privacy."

King Charles's clarification, according to Schofield, was necessary due to the increasing intertwining of Harry and Meghan's public profile with controversies. "Prince Harry is classified as a non-working member of the royal family whose position is akin to a private citizen," she noted. "Of course, Harry and Megan are famous. Nobody's disputing that, but where does their fame end and infamy begin? Fame can inspire people to invest in you emotionally and financially. Infamy means people know your name because controversy follows you."

Schofield added that the King has reason to clarify their status given the ongoing controversies, stating, "And after years of feuds, lawsuits, and relationships that deteriorate, I think it's fair to ask how much of the Sussex's enormous public profile today is driven by admiration and how much is driven by controversy, which is precisely why the king has every reason to make their status crystal clear."

However, royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner disagrees with King Charles's stance, suggesting that Harry, as the son of a king, should not be "weakly disenfranchised." Turner questioned the security implications, referencing the