King Charles sends letter to clarify Harry and Meghan’s U.K. status

King Charles III has reaffirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not working royals after their return to the United Kingdom.

The king informed a top royal family household official via letter that there is no change to the status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to “avoid doubt or confusion.”

“In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests,” states the letter.

A spokesperson for the couple told the BBC they were “a little surprised” they had not been told about the letter in advance.

The BBC report described it as “something of a shot across the bows” ahead of future appearances by Harry and Meghan.

The duke and duchess stepped away from their roles as working members of the family when they left the U.K. in 2020 for a brief stay in British Columbia before moving to California.

The couple returned to England last month to live as private citizens with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

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