London (GNP): The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were surprised to see a letter sent on behalf of King Charles confirming that they remain non-working royals, a spokesperson for the couple said. The letter, sent on Monday afternoon shortly after Prince Harry and Meghan moved back to the United Kingdom, spelt out that the pair would continue to be treated as private citizens and would not be permitted to use the titles of His and Her Royal Highness.
Royal sources say the couple were in fact made aware of the letter before it became public, and that their surprise reflected the limited time they were given to respond rather than a lack of prior knowledge. The Sussexes are understood to have seen the letter only about an hour before it reached the media, with contact from Prince Harry’s team coming almost too late to have any input before publication.
The letter was issued by the Lord Chamberlain, a senior Palace official acting on the King’s behalf, and was distributed to Prince Harry’s team, government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants, who serve as the monarch’s local representatives and are frequently involved in royal visits.
Palace sources say the message makes clear that any public engagements carried out by Harry and Meghan will be undertaken in a private capacity, with the couple not representing the Royal Family, a position seen by some as a firm signal that their appearances should not be mistaken for official royal duties.
The timing of the letter coincides with a separate review now under way into the level of taxpayer funded security the Sussexes should receive now that they are UK residents. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as Ravec and including Home Office representatives, is meeting this week to consider the matter, an issue Prince Harry has previously said left him without adequate police protection during visits to Britain.
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The Home Office does not disclose details of individual security arrangements, citing the need to protect their integrity and the safety of those involved.
Harry and Meghan relocated to the UK last month with their children, Archie and Lilibet, after several years based in California. The convergence of the Palace’s letter on their royal status and the ongoing security review underscores the practical questions the family now faces as they settle into life in Britain outside the formal structure of the working monarchy.
A Home Office spokesperson said, “The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.”
