Buckingham Palace issues letter confirming Harry and Meghan remain non-working royals
A letter from King Charles III, released to the media on Monday, reaffirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan retain their non-working status, prompting a swift response from their representatives.
Prince Harry and Meghan received a copy of a letter from King Charles III only about an hour before it was made public, leaving them little time to comment. The correspondence, addressed to senior government and military officials, reiterated that the couple will continue to forgo formal royal titles and conduct any charitable activities in a private capacity. It also noted that operational security matters remain the responsibility of the relevant police agencies.
"To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that (this) information be shared," the Lord Chamberlain wrote in the letter.
The couple stepped back from official duties in 2020 after relocating to North America and entering commercial agreements with media companies. At that time, Queen Elizabeth II indicated they could not retain partial royal roles, a stance reiterated by King Charles after his accession. Observers have voiced concerns that their presence in the United Kingdom could create a parallel sphere of influence that might compete with working members of the royal family.
Security arrangements remain under review, as Harry has previously sought the restoration of publicly funded police protection that was withdrawn when they gave up their royal roles. A government panel known as the Royal and VIP Executive Committee is expected to meet this week to consider any changes.