Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly caught off guard by the timing of a letter sent by King Charles III regarding their status as working members of the royal family. News broke on Monday, September 7, that a letter written by the senior royal officer Lord Chamberlain on Charles’ behalf had been sent to Harry’s team, clarifying the couple’s roles amid their reported return to the U.K. A spokesperson for the Sussexes told the BBC that they were “a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.” According to the outlet, their team is believed to have seen the letter only about an hour before it became public.
The letter described Harry and Meghan as being “akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests,” while noting that their charitable work “is a personal matter for them both.” It reiterated that in January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the Sovereign and are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The letter also stated that this position, along with the financial independence and privacy it provides, would continue to be respected.
The letter further clarified that Harry and Meghan’s styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used. The couple stepped away from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, where they raised their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. In August, reports emerged that the family was planning to move back to the U.K., with their children reportedly expected to attend school there. Harry and Meghan are also expected to retain their Montecito home and their vacation property in Portugal.
Harry’s relationship with his family has remained strained since his departure from royal duties, but former royal butler Grant Harrold previously suggested that King Charles may have played a role in his son’s decision to return closer to home. Harrold said he believed Harry and the King had been working behind the scenes to repair their relationship and that distance had made reconciliation difficult. He suggested that having Harry and his family closer could give father and son a better opportunity to rebuild their bond, adding that the King would likely be pleased to have his son and daughter-in-law closer to home.