Buckingham Palace is reportedly shaken by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's plans to continue with their international tours, which are being labeled as "quasi-royal tours" by the media. The royal family, including King Charles, is not particularly thrilled with the couple's intention to cosplay as royals during their recent trip to Nigeria.

In a rare interview with People magazine, Prince Harry hinted at more tours like the recent one, emphasizing the importance of meeting people directly and supporting causes to bring about positive change. He expressed that there are limits to what can be achieved through remote communication methods such as Zoom, and he looks forward to traveling more because the work matters.

According to a former royal staffer who spoke to The Daily Beast, the couple's priorities have shifted as they are no longer working royals. However, the broader public perceives them as representatives of the royal family, without taking into account such distinctions. The staffer shared concerns that if these rival foreign tours become a regular occurrence, it could create confusion and blur the image of the royal family.

The former royal staffer further explained that the purpose of royal tours is not only to promote causes but to also represent the monarchy. The recent trip to Nigeria was intended to promote Invictus, a Paralympic-style event established by Prince Harry, as well as to raise their own profile. This departure from traditional royal tour objectives is seen as problematic within Buckingham Palace.

The idea of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle acting as "freelance royals" is reportedly causing distress within the Palace. This is precisely the situation that the late Queen Elizabeth wanted to avoid, according to a royal aide. The concern lies in the potential confusion it may cause among the public and the dilution of the royal family's image and message.

As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle forge ahead with their plans for future international tours, the Palace continues to grapple with the implications of their increased independence and evolving roles as non-working royals. Their actions and the impact on the perception of the monarchy will be closely monitored by both the royal family and the public.