King Charles III has confirmed that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, continue to be non-working members of the royal family. The clarification was made in a letter authorized by the King and sent to senior government officials, the military, and lord lieutenants across the country.
The communication, issued by the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, aims to prevent any confusion about the couple's standing. It reiterates that Harry and Meghan will continue to refrain from using their royal titles, a practice they adopted in 2020 when they stepped back from official royal duties. Any charitable endeavors undertaken by the couple will be in a private capacity.
The letter also addresses operational security, stating that decisions regarding security for the couple are matters for the relevant police agencies. This comes amid Harry's ongoing efforts to secure publicly funded police protection, which was discontinued when he and Meghan relinquished their royal roles.
The decision to publicly release the letter underscores concerns among some palace observers about the potential for Harry and Meghan to establish a parallel royal presence that could compete with working members of the monarchy. Questions regarding courtesies to be extended to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, particularly those involving public funds, should be directed to Buckingham Palace, according to the Lord Chamberlain's correspondence.