Expert: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Accused of Staging 'Royal Theatre' as King Charles Faces New Dilemma

Royal experts say a visit to the Nottingham Sussex charity risks breaching Queen Elizabeth II's rules on 'half-in, half-out' arrangements.

Hugo Vickers, author of 'Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History', details how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex went out and interviewed Oprah during the final years of the late monarchy.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are accused of playing the role of the royal family on their own terms - and in the process ignoring the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Expert: King Charles draws 'line in sand' with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after couple fall out

"A royal engagement is not just a photo," Scofield said. "Diplomacy is involved. There is soft power. Working royals represent the sovereign, fostering relationships and serving the country's interests. Harry and Meghan seem more interested in falsifying the royal image than its purpose. They can emulate the engagement, but they cannot replicate the authority or importance of the constitution."

WATCH: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle stress Queen in recent years: Author

In January 2020, Queen Elizabeth II drew a firm line at the Sandringham Summit: There would be no 'half-in, half-out' role for the Sussexes. They could not remain working members of the royal family while pursuing independent and income-generating ventures. The couple stepped down from royal duties that year, citing intrusive British press coverage and a lack of palace support.

"Following discussions with the Duke, the Queen confirmed a letter from Buckingham Palace in a statement on February 19, 2021, saying that by stepping down from the work of the Royal Family, it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.

In response, the couple issued a statement saying: “We can all serve a lifetime. The service is universal."

In Nottingham, the couple will focus on charity work. People magazine reported that they will visit a food bank, where Meghan plans to reconnect with some of the women she supports at the Hubb Community Kitchen in London. As a royal, Meghan helped produce Together: Our Community Cookbook, which featured recipes from women involved in the kitchen.

The outlet also reported that they will visit the Society's recording studio, which helps youth affected by violence, and spend time at Epic Partners, which supports youth through coaching and sports.

Although Harry and Meghan are free to support charities as private citizens, their visits are not official royal engagements, as they no longer represent the monarch. However, royal commentators argue that the couple's public presence risks blurring the distinction.

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Kate!: The Courage, Grace, and Strength of the Woman Who Would Be Queen by Christopher Andersen is available now. (Gallery books)

"King Charles faces a serious problem as Harry and Meghan appear determined to ignore the late Queen's orders," Schofield said.

"They retain their titles and international prestige, allowing them to have the appearance of formal engagements even though they are no longer representatives of the throne. The king has shown throughout his life that he can be decisive in protecting his interests and institution. The question is whether he is ready to show the same power over his youngest son.

"Queen Elizabeth was outspoken," Schofield said. "You can't be half in, half out. If Harry and Meghan are determined to recreate this arrangement through the back door, Charles may end up having to remind them why the front door is closed."

Andersen noted that the king was "tired of having to deal with so much drama" and "sort of arbiter between his sons." However, Andersen said, if the Sussexes continue to blur the line between private citizens and working royals, the monarch may eventually have no choice but to act.

Andersen warned: "Anything that looks like a formal royal engagement is bound to be interpreted as going against the king's wishes, pure and simple." “The Queen's order was that the royals were either all in or all out. And the king is determined to fulfill his mother's wishes."

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the Hub Community Kitchen to see how funds raised by the cookbook 'Together: Our Community' are making a difference at Al Manaar in North Kensington. London, England, on November 21, 2018. (Samir Hussain/WireImage)

A source told People magazine that the Sussexes are "both excited to focus more on their work and projects that are important to them."

While the Sussexes were reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla in July, they are not believed to have seen the monarch in person since returning to the UK, the outlet reported. According to People, Harry and his father were in contact by phone. Harry and his older brother, Prince William, reportedly haven't spoken in years. A palace insider told the outlet that the rift between the brothers has only gotten "wider" since Harry returned to the UK.

"There are rumors that Harry and Meghan are trying to create an alternative royal family," he said. "Their first event together has raised eyebrows in some royal circles. But since they are now private citizens, the 'company' has very little power over them. This could be a blessing for Harry and Meghan in a way and a curse for those in royal circles."

Meghan Markle visits Nottingham Contemporary on December 1, 2017 in Nottingham, England. The visit came shortly after she and Prince Harry announced their engagement on November 27, 2017. (Samir Hossein/WireImage)

Schofield said the Sussexes could not control the palace's reaction, particularly if insiders believed the couple's plans were disrespectful to the late queen.

"What worries the king, Schofield said, is growing frustration among royal supporters who want to see him take a more assertive approach to his youngest son and daughter-in-law.

King Charles may believe that silence is the most respectful response, but there comes a time when restraint risks being mistaken for weakness. "The monarchy does not need to compete with Harry and Meghan for publicity, but it does need to protect the integrity of the royal service and the distinction between working royals and private citizens."

"After years of telling the world how miserable royal life has made them, they desperately fall back on the formula they left off," says Scofield. “Hollywood was going to give them something bigger and better. "Instead, they seem to be discovering that the royal connection has been their greatest asset of all time."

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