image source, Reuters
The letter, sent on behalf of King Charles, states that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be members of the royal family, who will be allowed to carry out official functions and duties, despite their return to the UK.
The letter aims to clarify the situation of Prince Harry and Meghan, who returned from California last month with their children Archie and Lilybeth.
A letter sent on behalf of the king by the Lord Chamberlain, a senior palace official, said they would not be able to use the titles “His Royal Highness and His Royal Highness” and would remain “ordinary citizens”.
It comes as Prince Harry appears to be pictured for the first time since returning to the UK, after social media posted a photo of him in a TV and podcast studio in London.
image source, PA media
According to palace sources, the king’s message has been sent to Prince Harry’s team, government agencies, military officials and heads of royal households.
Provincial princes, who represent the king locally, and government officials often participate in royal visits and meetings.
This letter makes it clear that any commitments made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be in a personal capacity and they do not represent the Royal Family.
It’s a stern warning that any visit by Prince Harry and Meghan should not be taken as a royal engagement.
This comes ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex making public appearances this autumn as they settle in the UK and support their charities.
The couple have kept their media appearances to a minimum, but what appears to be the first photo of Prince Harry since returning to the UK has been posted on social media platforms by the account of London’s Tower Bridge Studios.
The King’s letter confirms that the agreed position in 2020, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left Great Britain – the so-called Sandringham Agreement – remains in force.
This ruled out a ‘half-in, half-out’ situation, so Harry and Meghan could not pursue their own business interests while continuing to work as members of the royal family.
“It is common knowledge that as of January 2020, the Duke and Duchess will be stepping down from their representative duties on behalf of the King and are no longer members of the Royal Family,” the letter said.
A letter sent on behalf of the king reveals that this state of affairs still exists.
The statement read: “The duke and duchess’ charitable work is a personal matter for them and is carried out in their personal capacity.”
The king’s letter said any inquiries from organizations about hosting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, “particularly where public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace.”
Prince Harry and Meghan left the UK in 2020 due to major disagreements, a period they detailed in a Netflix documentary.
They have achieved financial independence in California, including Prince Harry writing a best-selling memoir, Spare, and Meghan launching an online food range called As Ever.
This summer the couple made a surprise return to the UK, where their two children will attend school.
Prince Harry is expected to support her charitable causes, including the Invictus Games scheduled for next year in Birmingham.
There have also been reports that Meghan is considering a return to acting.
Disagreements over Prince Harry and Meghan’s security arrangements in the UK remain unresolved, and the letter makes that clear, saying: “Any matters relating to operational security should be left to the appropriate police authorities.”
Prince Harry has complained that he is not given adequate police protection in the UK, but the palace says this should be dealt with by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee – known as Ravec – which decides on the security of royals and public figures.
Palace sources indicated that it would be better to publish the Lord Chamberlain’s letter in the spirit of transparency than to risk it being leaked.
Representatives for Prince Harry and Meghan have been contacted for comment.
