Royal editor Rebecca English has characterized the response from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's office to a letter from King Charles III as "utterly petty" and "entitled." The letter, sent on behalf of the King by the Lord Chamberlain, reiterated that the couple's status remains "akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests" and that their HRH styles "remain in abeyance." English, speaking on the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential program, stated that while the Royal Household's letter was a "pretty punchy" move, the Sussexes' reaction was "extraordinary."
According to English, the Sussex camp's initial claim of being unaware of the letter was untrue, and their subsequent assertion that they did not receive sufficient notice for amendments was also disputed. She noted that the Sussexes' office received notification of the letter's contents at 1:59 p.m. and responded twenty minutes later with an inquiry about its release. The letter was then made public at 3:06 p.m., with Prince Harry himself being contactable shortly after.
English suggested that the Sussexes' eagerness to detail the timings of the notification "really speaks to the heart of the situation." She relayed that individuals she has spoken with expressed surprise that two private citizens would expect to influence the directives of a head of state or believe they should have had a chance to alter what the King had written. This sentiment, English noted, is amplified by the couple's past public statements and media appearances.
"What about Oprah? What about Spare? What about the Netflix series, what about the many interviews in which they've taken some really nasty pop shots at the institution as well as individual family members?" English questioned, drawing a parallel to the lack of advance notice the Palace received for those projects. She concluded that many observers might feel the Sussexes are "getting a taste of their own medicine."
Furthermore, English addressed and dismissed the Sussex camp's suggestion that the letter's timing was intended to influence an upcoming RAVEC meeting concerning security arrangements. She stated that this claim was "pretty inflammatory" and incorrect on two counts: the Sussexes were mistaken about the meeting's timing, and the letter was issued on a Monday to align with the start of a new term for royal engagements, particularly as the Sussexes have a busy schedule of their own. English indicated the palace aimed to "get the record straight" before the couple's engagements commenced.