A dispute has intensified between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Buckingham Palace regarding the release of a letter from King Charles III that clarified the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's status as private citizens. The Sussexes' office has accused the Palace of failing to provide sufficient time for them to clarify points in the letter before its public release.
According to Team Sussex, they received the document an hour before it was sent to the media. Their office claims they were denied the opportunity to clarify several points made by the monarch. They allege that their request for clarification was not heeded, and they later learned from the King's aides that the letter had already been distributed publicly.
"We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance," a spokesman for Harry and Meghan stated, emphasizing that the publication of the letter caught the couple off guard. This exchange, occurring shortly after the couple's return to the UK two weeks prior, is expected to fuel further speculation about tensions between the Sussexes and the Royal Household.
Palace sources, however, have disputed the Sussexes' account, describing it as "incorrect." These sources told the Daily Mail that Harry and Meghan's team did receive the letter before its public release, although they were not consulted on its contents. The letter was sent to the media at 3:06 p.m. on a Monday, with its contents reportedly shared with the Sussexes' team at 1:59 p.m. The Sussexes' office replied at 2:19 p.m. with a query about whether the guidance had already been circulated, hoping to brief the Duke and Duchess before its media appearance.
During this period, Prince Harry was reportedly in a meeting and unavailable until 3:09 p.m., after which he was informed a letter had been drafted. His team received confirmation of its media distribution at 3:11 p.m.
Clarification of Royal Status
King Charles's letter, distributed to over 100 "senior stakeholders," explicitly stated that his son and daughter-in-law are not working royals and that their HRH titles remain on hold. This clarification came after repeated briefings to select media outlets by sources close to the couple about their new life in Britain, including potential public engagements and commercial opportunities. The letter reiterated Buckingham Palace's position that the Duke and Duchess's charitable work is a personal matter and that their position is "akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests."
This stance is consistent with the "Sandringham Summit" agreement from January 2020, which led to the Sussexes stepping back from royal duties and relocating from Britain. Palace officials stressed that the letter contained no new information and merely reaffirmed the established position, in accordance with the Sussex family's stated wishes.
Security Concerns and Official Duties
The timing of the King's announcement is also understood to be a concern for the Duke and Duchess, potentially linked to an upcoming meeting regarding their security arrangements. Harry and Meghan are seeking 24/7 armed police protection in the UK for themselves and their children, Archie and Lilibet. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), the Home Office body responsible for such decisions, is expected to meet soon to discuss these arrangements.
Prince Harry was seen at Tower Bridge Studios in London on Monday, reportedly working on a "mystery project." His public appearances are not to be treated as royal engagements, and no public funds should be used for them, as per the King's letter. The letter also clarified that security surrounding any visits by the Sussexes should be directed to the local police authority, as decisions on Harry's security remain with Ravec and not the King.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend church in Scotland on Sunday, 24 hours before the bombshell letter was revealed.
Prince Harry was pictured for the first time since he and Meghan Markle returned to the UK in London yesterday at a TV studio as a row over a letter from his father increased.
Meghan's As Ever Instagram page posted the first picture of the Duchess since she returned to the UK today. It showed Meghan playing with a dog in the sunshine.
