King clarifies Harry's status to government officials in unusual move

King Charles III has stated in a letter that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, remain private citizens upon their recent return to the United Kingdom. In the letter, authorized for release to prevent any confusion, Charles clarifies that the couple is no longer part of the working royal family and will not use the titles of HRH. The letter reaffirms that Harry and Meghan's position as senior royals ended in January 2020, and this status will be fully respected moving forward.

The letter emphasizes that any security concerns will be handled by the relevant police agencies, while the couple's charitable endeavors will be conducted in a private capacity. Essentially, their new role is that of private citizens with commercial and charitable interests, as stated by the letter, which was sent on behalf of the King by the Lord Chamberlain. Palace sources revealed that releasing the letter publicly was a matter of transparency, rather than risking a potential leak.

The decision for Harry and Meghan to return to the U.K. came after six years spent in California. According to a report by CBS News partner BBC News, the couple arrived in the UK in late August and are expected to reside in the picturesque Cotswolds region, situated approximately two hours west of London. The move to California had previously caused tensions within the royal family, with Harry losing a legal battle in 2024 against a government body's decision to reduce his security detail during visits back to the U.K. Despite the challenges, Harry and Meghan have two children together, Archie, born in 2019, and Lilibet, born in 2021.