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Harry and Meghan 'surprised' by King's letter making clear they remain non-working royals

A spokesman says they were not told in advance about the letter sent on behalf of the king, although palace sources deny this.

Harry and Meghan 'surprised' by King's letter making clear they remain non-working royals

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, were reportedly taken aback by a letter from the Royal Household clarifying their official status as non-working royals. According to a spokesperson, the couple was "a little surprised" not to be informed about the letter in advance. However, palace insiders claim they were indeed made aware of it beforehand.

It is also revealed that a Home Office security committee is currently deliberating on the matter of taxpayer-funded security for the family, now residing in the UK. The King's letter, sent on behalf of himself, aimed to make clear the status of Harry and Meghan, who returned from California with their children Archie and Lilibet last month.

Despite this, the couple would still not be able to use the titles of His and Her Royal Highness, and would remain private citizens, according to the letter. The message from the King reiterated the terms agreed upon in 2020 during the "Sandringham Agreement" - which ruled out any "half-in and half-out" status. This meant Harry and Meghan could not pursue their own commercial interests while continuing to serve as working royals.

Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Also reported by 3 other outlets

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