Buckingham Palace has issued a letter clarifying the status of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, stating they remain private citizens and non-working members of the Royal Family. The letter, sent on behalf of King Charles by the Lord Chamberlain, was released Monday following the couple's recent relocation back to the United Kingdom with their children.
"Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the UK, we have received a number of requests for Guidance. To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that the following information be shared," the letter stated. The clarification reiterates that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their representative duties in January 2020 and their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes told BBC that they were "a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance," although palace sources indicated the couple was informed prior to the letter's release. The statement emphasizes that the couple's charitable work is a personal matter undertaken in their private capacity, and their position is comparable to that of private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the then-Prince Charles, and Prince Harry stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in 2018. Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images
The letter also addressed inquiries regarding funding and security. It specified that any questions from official and State organizations concerning courtesies or the potential recourse to public funds should be directed to Buckingham Palace. Operational security issues are to be handled by the relevant Police authorities, and all administrative correspondence should be sent directly to the couple's office, which operates separately from The Royal Household. Reports suggest the Sussexes' team received the letter with little more than an hour's notice before its publication.