King Charles clarifies Harry, Meghan’s status after UK return: ‘Private citizens’

King Charles III has clarified that his children Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not working members of the British royal family, despite recently returning to live in the UK. The couple severed their ties with the royal family in 2020 and moved to the United States, where tensions with the monarchy arose. Last month, Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, returned to Britain with their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5.

A letter from the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the Royal Household, confirmed that the couple's status has not changed following their move back to the UK. The letter noted that Harry and Meghan had "stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the sovereign" in January 2020 and that their status as private citizens with commercial and charitable interests would continue.

They are not addressed as His or Her Royal Highness, and their charitable activities are performed in a personal capacity. Harry and Meghan remain officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, even though they are now living in the Cotswolds region of England and have enrolled their children at private schools.