Royal Staff Crank Up Sussex Shade: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Referred to by 'Vicious Nickname' in Palace Circles

Princess Margaret's ex-husband the Earl of Snowden once said that the royals "are good at blanking uncomfortable" situations out, and their current courtiers reportedly follow the same trend.

In palace circles, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been given a "vicious" nickname by staff, according to royal author Craig Brown's new book A Voyage Around the Queen.

"These days, the names of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, do not crop up very often in court circles..." royal expert Gyles Brandreth shared in 2022 as recounted in Brown's book. "When they do, courtiers flinch almost imperceptibly and change the subject — or, if that's not possible, refer to them obliquely as 'persons who live overseas.'"

He continued, "Mention the Sussexes to other members of the royal family... and they simply smile briefly and say, 'We wish them all the best,' and nothing else."

Any type of reunion with the British royal family for Harry and Meghan is a "no-go" for two key reasons not commonly addressed: security and family unity.

In addition to these concerns, royal expert Sarah Hewson points out how the dynamic between Team Sussex and senior monarchy members is just "a mess, and it's a very sorry mess."

"He's met Lilibet once, Archie just a handful of times," Hewson added. "That's really, really sad. Obviously geography plays a part in that, we aren't going to see the King jumping on a plane to California to see them. We know things with the Waleses and the Sussexes are extremely tense. I don't see any signs of any thawing there — and it's really not a priority."

Both His Majesty and Kate, Princess of Wales' delicate health conditions are also a concern since the Sussex couple would "quite obviously" cause all the royals "some stress."

The commentator concluded: "One of the things the Waleses really want to focus on now is keeping things calm, stress levels down, during the Princess' recuperation. I really don't think a reunion with Harry and Meghan is going to do anything for stress levels, and it's just not their focus."

Additionally, Prince William's reply to the Duke of Sussex's message of support after the future queen revealed she was battling cancer, was reportedly "thick with frost."

"Harry and Meghan have been in contact with William, but their private message was simply one of sympathy and didn’t include any suggestion the brothers should make up and let bygones be bygones or that Harry should fly back to the U.K. soon," royal author Tom Quinn revealed about the note and any rumored "intentions" of a cordial acceptance of a reunion.

Daily Mirror reported on Brown's book.