The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have blamed Uganda’s withdrawal from the Invictus Games on King Charles’ edict this week that the prodigal pair should be treated as “private individuals” and not as working royals.
The Sun reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s camp privately vented their frustrations after the African nation’s general stated on Wednesday that Uganda would not take part without the approval of the monarch.
Adding insult to injury, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba also stated that he felt forced to disregard what he described as the “Harry-Meghan nonsense”.
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The Ugandan military official, who is also the son of the country’s president, issued his statement less than two days after a missive issued by the King’s highest official, Lord Chamberlain, was publicly released to clarify that despite their return to the UK, Harry and Meghan were not to be treated as working members of the royal family.
“In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games,” Kainerugaba said on X.
“We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval.”
A source close to the Prince reportedly told respected UK outlet ITV News on Wednesday night that: “Intended or unintended, this is clearly a consequence of the Lord Chamberlain’s guidance regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that was rushed out without consultation on Monday.”
“Sadly, the only people who will suffer are the Invictus Games competitors.”
The Invictus Games is one of the Prince’s signature activities, a sports event for wounded military veterans run by the Duke. Uganda’s inclusion in it was announced earlier this year.
It continues a torrid week for the Sussexes in the wake of Monday’s announcement from the monarch, which they claim was made public without prior warning or consultation.
In fact a spokesperson for the couple, who returned to Great Britain after a six-year stint in California, told the BBC that they were surprised by the release of the letter.
The Sun reported that the Duke was only told of the missive at 3.09pm Monday, local time, which was just three minutes after it became public.
The letter makes clear the duke and duchess do not use their HRH styles and any operational security issues involving them should be directed to the relevant police authorities.
The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 but returned to the UK on August 26 with rumours rife as to the reason.
In the run up to their return, the King was said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the family, but remained adamant they would not be working royals and there was no half-in, half-out option.
“Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the UK, we have received a number of requests for guidance. To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that the following information be shared,” the letter said.
“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of The Royal Family.
“This position, distinct from the State and Royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.”
Harry is expected to carry out his annual series of engagements around the WellChild awards, normally held in mid-September, and it has been reported Meghan is aiming to rekindle her work with her UK-based charities.
The couple’s children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are expected to be starting school in the UK near the family’s reported countryside retreat.
The letter stipulated “there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex”.
“Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.
“The charitable work of the duke and duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.
“In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
However, the Sussex camp is said to have already reacted to the term “private citizens” with a briefing to London’s Telegraph, suggesting that they would prefer the term “public figures” instead.
