Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have “overshadowed” a huge moment for Prince George with their return to the UK, a royal expert has claimed. According to Phil Dampier, King Charles’s letter to the Sussexes was a “warning shot” against overshadowing the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, made a bombshell surprise return to the UK a fortnight ago, but they will remain non-working royals, the King’s statement said. However, according to Mr Dampier, the announcement was more addressed to the public than to his youngest son and daughter-in-law. “It’s really sending out a message – a warning shot across their bows, you could say,” he said. “What they’re [the palace] emphasising is that nothing has changed as far as they’re concerned.”

“No one was expecting them to come back, so they didn’t feel it was necessary to point this out before,” he told The Sun.

“But now that they’ve come back and might start turning up to various charity events or doing commercial activities, it’s got to be absolutely clear to everyone that they are doing it as private individuals and not as royals.”

He added that the message may well be ignored by Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, who “like the drama”.The drama comes on an important day for the Royal Family, for several reasons. September 8 marks the fourth anniversary of the late Queen’s death, as well as the first day of Prince George’s time at Eton College.

September 8 was Prince George’s first day at Eton College (Image: Getty)

However, the important day for the prince, who is second in line to the throne, was overshadowed by the back and forth from Harry and Meghan regarding their security, the King’s message and their return to the UK.