Royal family clarifies Prince Harry's non-working status in letter to Sussexes
A letter from King Charles reiterated that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain private citizens and are not working members of the royal family, a point the couple reportedly accepted despite surprise at its timing.
King Charles sent a letter to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their recent return to the United Kingdom, restating that they retain private citizen status and are no longer working members of the royal family. The correspondence clarified that they cannot use the style "His and Her Royal Highness" and rejected any notion of a "half-in and half-out" role, describing their charitable activities as private work.
According to a source close to the couple, the Sussexes were surprised by the timing of the letter rather than its content, and they have accepted the clarification that Harry is not a working royal. Royal commentator Tom Sykes said the couple agreed with the letter’s substance but were taken aback because it arrived just minutes before it was publicly released.
The letter arrived around 2 p.m. UK time, with Harry reportedly contacted at 3:09 p.m., shortly before the media announcement. Representatives for the King, Harry and Meghan were not immediately available for comment.