As Harry and Meghan were stripped of their royal patronages and Harry lost his honorary military roles, a spokesperson for the couple said: “We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.” But royal expert Camilla Tominey has argued Harry and Meghan “do not seem to understand what public service actually is”.
Ms Tominey said of the response from the Sussexes: “Not only is it deeply disrespectful to engage in this sort of last word freakery with the Queen.
“I also do not think the 94-year-old monarch, who has devoted her whole life to duty, needs to be lectured on service by anyone.
“Of course all royal engagements are self-promotional to a certain extent, but there is a big difference between acts that serve others and self-serving acts.”
Buckingham Palace announced yesterday the couple would not return as working royals, and that it was not possible for them “to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service”.
Harry has lost his royal rugby patronages, Meghan her patronages of the National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, as well as the couple’s roles with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
Harry will also no longer be Captain-General of the Royal Marines, nor hold two other honorary military appointments.
The royal commentator stressed it was “beggars belief” Prince Harry, a “blood-born prince who grew up in the Firm”, agreed to respond to the Palace with his service comment.
But Ms Tominey said a “California-born former actress”, Meghan can arguably “be forgiven for this”.
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A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan had said in response to the Palace statement: “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role.
“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
