During a time when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are already under public scrutiny because of their constant demands for privacy, and their pricey renovations to Frogmore Cottage, another issue has caught the public’s attention.
The Sussexs may be using their royal privilege to make unnecessary and rude demands on their neighbors. The issue naturally has the British people upset, and the duke and duchess scrambling to repair their image. Here’s what we know.
The Duke and Duchess issue rules for their neighbors around Frogmore Cottage
A recent report by The Sun exposed a list of rules that neighbors of Frogmore Cottage are expected to abide. According to the report, a neighborhood meeting was held, where an overly protective palace office gave a list of rules to people living around the estate.
Among the rules, neighbors are not to approach or initiate conversation with the duke or duchess. If they are spoken to, they may reply with a simple pleasantry, like “Good Morning.”
Neighbors are not allowed to touch the royal dogs, even if the dogs approach them. They are also not allowed to offer to walk the dogs.
Those living around Frogmore Cottage may not ask the duke or duchess about their baby, Archie, or offer to babysit.
The property surrounding Frogmore is part of the Windsor estate, and so is occupied by palace officials, and members of the royal staff. There are about 400 people living in the area, including Prince Charles‘ former nanny, the Queen’s right hand, and the governor of Windsor. These citizens are far from the general public, and all know the proper way to behave around a royal, therefore some are quite upset, and insulted by these demands.
“We aren’t told how to behave around the queen like this,” one neighbor said. “She’s very happy for people to greet her.”
The rules may not have come from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
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After the report was published, Buckingham Palace released a statement denying that the duke or duchess had anything to do with issuing the demands of their neighbors.
According to Hello magazine, a palace spokesperson said, “The Duke and Duchess didn’t request this, didn’t know about it, and had nothing to do with the content or guidance offered.”
The rules may have been initiated by an overly protective palace official, who took Harry and Markle’s demands for privacy to mean they expected such things of their neighbors.
The demands tarnish the Sussex image further
Regardless of who created them, the Sussex’s are taking the blame. In a time where they’re already facing criticism for issues, like the costly remodel of Frogmore Cottage, and Markle’s overly political Vogue issue, this new complaint may do even more damage to their reputation.
The problem is that even if Harry and Markle did not initiate these rules, they were created because of their constant desire for privacy. For example, they haven’t released the name of their new dog, or the names of Archie’s godparents, issues that upset the British public. Markle also came under fire recently when her bodyguard asked a woman to stop taking pictures at Wimbledon.
While it may seem reasonable for Harry and Markle to request privacy, they do need to remember that the British tax-payers fund their lifestyle. So if they’re going to take the large paycheck that comes with being a royal, they’re expected to give up being private citizens. Instead, they must represent the country and the crown. They must turn their lives over for the people, because that’s what they’re being paid for.
If Harry and Markle aren’t willing to accept the public life of a royal, then maybe they need to become private citizens, which means no longer taking tax-payer money or the many benefits that go along with being royal.
