King Charles III has reaffirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, remain non-working members of the Royal Family and are to be trea...
King Charles III has reaffirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, remain non-working members of the Royal Family and are to be treated as private citizens following their return to the United Kingdom.
The clarification was contained in a letter issued by Lord Benyon, the Lord Chamberlain, on the King’s direction. The letter was circulated to government and military offices and other officials following the couple’s return to Britain, with the stated purpose of avoiding uncertainty over their status.
The move comes after Harry and Meghan returned to the UK from the United States in August with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The couple had left Britain in 2020 after stepping back from their official royal duties and subsequently established their lives in California.
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Their return had prompted questions about whether living in Britain again could lead to a change in their relationship with the Royal Family or a return to official duties. The letter makes clear that their relocation has not changed the arrangement established when they stepped down from royal responsibilities.
“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the sovereign, and are no longer working members of the Royal Family,” the letter said.
The document also states that the couple’s existing position will continue to be respected, including their financial independence and privacy. Their charitable activities are similarly regarded as private rather than official work undertaken on behalf of the monarchy.
The letter further clarifies that Harry and Meghan’s styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not to be used. They continue to be known publicly as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but they do not undertake official royal duties.
“In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests,” the letter states. The distinction means that any public engagements, charitable activities or commercial work undertaken by the couple are carried out in a private capacity rather than as representatives of King Charles or the Royal Family.
The clarification also has implications for government and state organisations. The letter says questions about courtesies extended to the Sussexes, particularly where public funds could be involved, should be directed to Buckingham Palace. Operational security matters are to continue to be handled by the relevant police authorities.
Security has remained a significant issue for Harry since he and Meghan left the UK. The couple’s return has renewed questions about what level of protection they will receive while living in Britain. Security arrangements are handled separately from their royal status, with the relevant authorities responsible for assessing such matters.
The letter follows the terms established after the couple stepped away from royal duties in 2020. That arrangement ruled out a return to a role combining official royal responsibilities with independent commercial activities. The latest statement therefore reinforces an existing position rather than creating a new royal status for the couple.
Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain has nevertheless brought them closer to the Royal Family after six years largely based in the United States. Their children have also returned to Britain with them, with reports that they are being settled into school in the UK.
The move has also brought renewed public attention to the couple’s future activities in Britain. Harry is expected to continue his charitable work, including activities connected to the Invictus Games, while the couple retains its independent commercial interests. Their activities, however, will remain separate from the official programme of the working Royal Family.
Reports also indicate that Harry and Meghan were surprised by the timing of the King’s letter. Reuters reported that the couple learned about the communication shortly before it was distributed, although Buckingham Palace maintained that they had received the letter before its public release.
The distinction between the Sussexes and working royals remains important because members carrying out official duties receive administrative and other support from the Royal Household. Harry and Meghan, by contrast, continue to operate independently and are not representing the monarch when undertaking their personal charitable or commercial activities.
The King’s latest clarification therefore leaves little change to the Sussexes’ formal position following their move back to Britain. They can live and work in the UK and continue their charitable and commercial activities, but their return does not restore their former role as working members of the Royal Family.
