Meghan and Harry respond after King Charles reaffirms their royal status

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have responded after King Charles made clear that their return to Britain has not changed their position within the Royal Family.

In a statement issued after the King’s letter was made public, a spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said the couple were “a little surprised” that they had not been informed about it in advance.

The response came just weeks after Harry and Meghan returned to the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, following six years in the United States.

King Charles makes Sussexes’ position clear

The letter, issued on Monday on behalf of King Charles, reiterated that Harry and Meghan remain non-working members of the Royal Family.

It stated that there had been no change to the couple’s status. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used, while their charitable activities continue to be carried out in a private capacity.

The letter also described the Sussexes’ position as being akin to that of private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.

The clarification was sent to senior government and military officials as well as representatives across the UK, setting out how the Duke and Duchess should be treated now that they are spending an extended period in Britain. ITV reported that the move was intended to remove any uncertainty surrounding their status as they begin undertaking activities in the country.

Sussexes say they were surprised

Harry and Meghan’s spokesman said: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”

The comment suggested that the couple were caught off guard by the timing and public release of the statement.

Palace officials, however, disputed the suggestion that Harry and Meghan had not been informed. According to reports cited by the Daily Mail, the couple had received the letter before it was released publicly, although they were not consulted about its contents.

The disagreement comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the Sussexes, who have only recently returned to Britain after spending the past six years living in California.

Harry and Meghan return to Britain with their children

The family arrived at Birmingham Airport on August 26, with Archie and Lilibet accompanying their parents.

Their return came six years after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals and moved to the United States. Reports said the family planned to spend an extended period in the UK while retaining their life in California.

The children’s return to Britain has also marked a significant change for the family. Archie is now seven and Lilibet is five, and both are understood to have enrolled at a private school in the UK.

The family is understood to have settled in the Cotswolds, although the precise location of their home and the children’s school has not been made public.

Security remains a major issue

The couple’s return has also brought renewed attention to Harry’s long-running concerns over security for his family in Britain.

Harry and Meghan continue to seek police protection while in the UK, with particular concern surrounding the safety of their children and their movements to and from school.

The issue remains unresolved. Reports have also suggested that the Sussexes have been concerned about the timing of the King’s statement and whether it could be connected to discussions over their security arrangements. ITV reported that operational security matters are to remain with the relevant police authorities.

Harry’s security has been a particularly contentious issue since the couple left their working royal roles. The current arrangement does not give them the same automatic taxpayer-funded armed police protection provided to senior working members of the Royal Family.

Their return does not mean a return to royal duties

The King’s letter leaves little ambiguity over what Harry and Meghan’s move back to Britain means for their royal status.

Despite living in the UK again, they are not returning as working royals and will not resume official duties on behalf of the monarch.

Their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles remain in place, while their HRH styles remain in abeyance and are not used. Their charitable work is also regarded as private rather than part of the official work of the Royal Family.

The arrangement reflects the position established when Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020. At the time, the couple agreed to stop carrying out official royal work and no longer use their HRH styles, while gaining greater financial independence.

An uncertain future in the UK

For now, it remains unclear how long Harry and Meghan intend to stay in Britain.

Their decision to return with Archie and Lilibet has nevertheless placed the couple back in close proximity to the Royal Family after years living in the United States.

The King’s latest letter makes clear that the move does not alter the terms of their departure from royal duties. Harry and Meghan may live in Britain, pursue charitable work and maintain their private interests, but their position within the monarchy remains that of non-working royals.

The couple’s blunt response to the letter adds another point of tension to an already closely watched return, with their security arrangements and long-term plans in Britain still unresolved.