The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan Markle, may have concerns about their status within the royal family due to their names being placed at the bottom of the palace website.
Phil Dampier, a royal biographer, suggests that King Charles will likely make it clear to them that they are not considered working royals and cannot hold a semi-official role.
Previously, the royal family website featured a list of significant adult royals, each with their own section providing information about them.
Until recently, Harry and Meghan were positioned in the middle of the rankings, just below senior members.
However, following the Queen’s death and subsequent reworking of the website, they were moved to the second and third lowest spots, now ranking above only Prince Andrew.
This change in positioning has raised concerns for Harry and Meghan, as it seems they are gradually being pushed out of the royal picture.
According to Mr. Dampier, they are now at the bottom of the league table, alongside Prince Andrew, and currently have no way of moving up.
The Sussexes were originally placed just below Prince William and Kate Middleton when they resided in the UK, but after their decision to move to the United States, they were moved down further, below the Wessexes and Princess Anne.
In addition to their shifting position within the royal family, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have faced criticism for their perceived hypocritical behavior.
Since stepping back from their senior royal roles in 2020, the couple has been accused of wanting to have the best of both worlds.
Prince Harry is currently engaged in a legal battle with the British government over security he lost when he stepped down from his role.
The security he is requesting is typically provided only to working royal family members.
Experts argue that this move by the Sussexes demonstrates their hypocrisy, as they aim to be financially independent from the crown while still enjoying the privileges associated with their HRH titles.
According to royal expert Hilary Forwich, Prince Harry has shown a tendency to want his cake and eat it too.
He desires royal protection, access to royal family events, and the ability to share information, all while seeking privacy and employing three PR firms.
For example, he wanted to wear his military uniform at his grandmother’s funeral, despite not working as a royal.
He also sought permission to break army policy regarding beards for his wedding.
Exceptions to this policy are typically granted only on medical or religious grounds or when tradition permits, but Prince Harry obtained a personal dispensation from Queen Elizabeth.
However, it seems that these concessions were not enough for him.
Another royal expert, Shannon Felton-Spence, likens Harry and Meghan’s behavior to quitting a job but still expecting the company to provide benefits.
While it is not necessarily a negative thing for Harry to seek a different way of life as the fifth in line to the throne, the monarchy’s survival depends on a more streamlined royal family.
If he were to find a way to truly step away from his role as a working royal and achieve financial independence without harming the institution, it would be considered a significant accomplishment.
Such a move could also serve as a blueprint for future generations further down the line of succession, such as Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
However, it appears that Harry and Meghan wanted both freedom and perks, which goes beyond the responsibilities of their position, resulting in a messy situation.
The blame for the current state of affairs is shared between the couple and the institution itself.
It was in the best interest of the institution to find an independent path forward for Harry and Meghan and lay the groundwork for future generations.
However, emotions seem to have taken over, leading to bitterness and exacerbating the situation.
In conclusion, Harry and Meghan Markle’s position within the royal family is being questioned as their names have been moved down on the palace website.