Harry and Meghan's pal insists couple are 'royals who work' in row over title

Harry and Meghan's pal insists couple are 'royals who work' in row over title Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to object to being described as "former royals" as they made their first public engagements since returning to the UK in August Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly hate the phrase "working members of the royal family" a friend of the couple has claimed. The term is usually used to describe members of the royal family who take on public engagements on behalf of the monarchy. But both Harry and Meghan reportedly dislike the phrase as they view themselves as "members of the royal family and they work". The couple stepped down as senior members of the Firm in 2020 and made a life in the United States. As part of the arrangement, which saw them secure commercial deals with businesses including Spotify and Netflix, Buckingham Palace said "the Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family". Harry and Meghan are also said to have taken objection to being described as "former royals". It comes as the couple made their first joint public engagements since returning to the UK in Nottingham last week. "'Working members of the royal family' is a really lazy phrase," a friend of the couple told The Sunday Times. "He hates it, she hates it. "They are not 'working' for the institution but are members of the royal family and they work. Their days are built around their family life and their work. She's running a business seven days a week." The friend continued: "Things like Nottingham aren't done in the name of the institution or the crown, but Harry is the son of the King, he is still a member of the royal family, he's just not a member of the institution. It's misleading to call them 'former royals'. "It has an impact on how they're perceived and the way people talk about them." The Duke and Duchess undertook back-to-back engagements in Nottinghamshire last week with crowds of wellwishers gathering to see the couple. The family has been settling into their new lives back in Britain since returning in August. Harry spoke about the changes for the young family while speaking with schoolchildren waiting outside the Community Recording Studio in Nottingham last week. Harry told the kids that his son Archie had sweetly asked whether he could be enrolled in a school that 'doesn't do maths' after moving to the UK. In the video, posted on X, Harry added: “And then he went to this new school and on the first day, on the first class, guess what it was? Maths!” The Sussexes have been keen to take part in engagements since arriving back in Britain, Harry attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit awards. The Mirror has contacted Archwell Productions, a company founded by Harry and Meghan, for comment.