Are Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Returning to Royal Duties? What King Charles' New Letter Says | Just Jared

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not returning to official royal duties. New guidance authorized by King Charles confirms that their return to the U.K. does not change their status as non-working royals.

The correspondence was issued on Monday (September 7) by the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Benyon, at the King’s direction, People reports. It was circulated to senior government and military officials and Lord Lieutenancies after requests for clarification about the couple’s position following their move back to Britain.

What does King Charles’ letter say?

“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,” the letter said, according to the copy obtained by Reuters.

It continues, “It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”

The distinction matters because supporting a charity does not automatically mean someone is carrying out an official royal engagement. Harry and Meghan can continue working with causes in their own capacity, without representing the monarch.

Not much has changed about their arrangement since 2020

That separation was already part of the arrangement announced in Buckingham Palace’s January 18, 2020 statement. It said the Sussexes would stop performing royal duties, including official military appointments, and would no longer receive public funds for those duties. They could maintain private patronages and associations, but could no longer formally represent Queen Elizabeth.

An appearance can be public without being an official royal duty. The new letter reiterates that distinction following the couple’s relocation; it does not appoint them to new roles.

The wording also doesn’t indicate that all their titles have been removed. The correspondence says their His and Her Royal Highness styles remain unused. The palace already established that back in 2020, when they stepped back as working royals.

Harry and Meghan are still identified as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

The royal family’s current website still identifies Harry and Meghan as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and lists their titles.

There are some practical instructions, too. According to the letter, their office continues to operate separately from the Royal Household. Official questions about courtesies or potential public spending are to be directed to Buckingham Palace, while operational security matters remain with the relevant police authorities. No new police-protection has been announced.

Read more about Harry and Meghan‘s move back to the U.K.

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