A formal letter issued on behalf of King Charles has confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to hold the status of non-working royals following their return to the United Kingdom from California.
The correspondence, sent by the Lord Chamberlain—a senior Palace official—was distributed to Prince Harry’s team, government bodies, military leadership, and Lord Lieutenants to dispel any ambiguity regarding the couple’s role within the royal family.
According to the letter, the Sussexes are classified as private citizens who maintain their own commercial and charitable interests. They will not be undertaking official engagements representing the Crown, nor will they use the styles His and Her Royal Highness. The document emphasizes that any future charitable work undertaken by the couple is strictly a personal matter conducted in a private capacity.
The clarification reaffirms the terms of the “Sandringham Agreement” reached in January 2020, when the couple stepped down from their duties as working members of the Royal Family. That arrangement explicitly prohibited a “half-in, half-out” status, meaning Harry and Meghan could not pursue independent commercial ventures while continuing to perform official royal functions.
“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of the Royal Family,” the statement read. The Palace noted that this position remains unchanged despite the couple’s recent relocation back to the UK with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
The term ‘private citizens’ does seem a bit cold for family members. Though I suppose it’s better than ambiguity.
I wonder if Archie and Lilibet’s education plans will change with this status? It’s interesting watching them reintegrate on these terms.
Interesting how Harry seems to have returned but not really. The Sussexes definitely prioritized business deals over royal protocol.
A bit dramatic to send official letters about this. Did we really need such a formal reminder for something everyone already knew?
Makes sense. The UK is their home, but the titles were a price they refused to pay. Privacy matters more than pomp now.