Queen Elizabeth’s chef weighs in on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘public figure’ debate

Days after a letter was released on King Charles‘ behalf on the subject of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s royal status, the fallout has continued, with the late Queen Elizabeth’s chef now weighing in on the issue.

In the “letter of guidance” to senior stakeholders on Tuesday, the Lord Chamberlain confirmed that the Duke and Duchess are not working royals and their Royal Highness titles should not be used following their move back to the UK on 26 August. 

Meanwhile, Lord Benyon added: “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.”

Harry and Meghan later issued clarifications regarding the letter, claiming they were given only an hour’s notice prior to its release.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex want to be known as ‘public figures’

According to The Telegraph, the couple took issue with being considered private citizens, and would prefer the term “public figures”. They also want to continue to be recognised as members of the royal family on a personal level, despite stepping back from official duties in 2020 and no longer receiving public funding.

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Now, royal chef Darren McGrady, who worked for Queen Elizabeth for 11 years and Princess Diana and her two sons for four years, has shared his opinion on the matter.

“Private Citizens – definition… Everyday individuals who do not seek fame or involvement in public controversies. Public Figures – definition… politicians, celebrities and people who voluntarily enter public debates. Worried yet?” he wrote on Instagram.

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Speculation over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s motive to move

This comes shortly after the chef seemed to confirm some rumours about why Harry and Meghan chose to return to the UK after setting up a life in Montecito with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Despite stating in 2025 that “he couldn’t see a world” in which they would live back in England, Prince Harry made a surprising U-turn and announced his kids are set to start school in the UK this September.

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Amid speculation about the reason for their trans-Atlantic move, Richard Kay said on the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential podcast: “I am told that one of the reasons Harry’s here is to make a television film, his own film, about his mother,” he said.

“I know he has been reaching out to his friends and others who knew her, asking them to contribute. That’s going to occupy a lot of his headspace over the next 12 months.”

Darren seemingly confirmed reports that Harry is making a film about his late mother, Princess Diana, in line with the 30th anniversary of her death next year.

He said that there “was a film crew” at the Althorp Estate, where Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, lives, and where Harry and Meghan stayed during their visit to the UK earlier this summer.

“Oh, I did wonder if that’s why the film crew were there when I visited Althorp earlier this week. #princessdiana,” he penned.