A letter from The King to the government, military and others has confirmed that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be working Royals after their return to the UK.
Harry and Meghan, who reportedly landed in the UK last week, will remain private citizens, as per the agreement reached at Sandringham in 2020, when a ‘half-in, half-out’ deal was nixed. This information was shared by Lord Chamberlain – who runs the royal household – after bodies, including government departments and the military requested guidance.
‘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 letter said.
‘This position, distinct from the State and Royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.
‘It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used. The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.
‘In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.’
They will still not be able to use an HRH style (the styles ‘remain in abeyance and are not used’) and are ‘private citizens with commercial and charitable interests’.
Prince Harry and Meghan do retain their titles, and their children are legally entitled to be titled as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in line with the 1917 Letters Patent issued by George V; this is because they are grandchildren of the Monarch through the male line (i.e. Harry).
Reports also say it has been sent to Prince Harry’s team, along with Lord Lieutenants, who help organise royal visits in their local area.
Buckingham Palace is maintaining a watchful eye on this, expressing that questions ‘about the courtesies which should be extended to the Duke and Duchess, ‘particularly where recourse to public funds may be required’ should be directed to the royal household.
Security queries, meanwhile ‘should continue to be directed to the relevant police authorities’.
It is a clear signal any appearances from the couple are not to be treated as royal events.
The letter comes just a day before the fourth anniversary of Charles’ accession, and the death of Elizabeth II.
