This is Harry and Meghan’s version of public duty, of service.
This ongoing tour of Australia, which has one more day to go, has offered the clearest snapshot yet of the couple’s modus operandi.
We have seen how the Sussexes are reframing their role, with its all-important commitment to duty and service, to suit themselves and their expensive new lives running the Montecito branch of the House of Windsor.
When the Duke and Duchess stepped back from royal duties, Elizabeth II made clear that they could not pursue the “half in, half out” model they had proposed – conducting public duties on behalf of the Crown while also making money.
The word “service” became a touchpoint when, in a statement released in 2021, following a 12-month review of their situation, the late Queen confirmed that the couple would not “continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service”.
In what proved to be a sign of things to come, the Sussexes snapped back: “We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
It was telling, I thought, that the word came up again on Thursday.
During a short Q&A on stage at the InterEdge leadership summit, the Duke described how, following the death of his mother, he decided he did not want this job.
“I don’t want this role, wherever this is headed. I don’t like it. It killed my mum,” he said. “I was very much against it.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
