King Charles III has clarified that his son Prince Harry and Harry’s wife Meghan are not considered “working members of the royal family” following their recent return to the United Kingdom from the United States. The couple relocated to Britain last month with their two children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, after stepping back from royal duties in 2020 amid familial tensions.
In a letter issued Monday by Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the Royal Household, the position of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was described as “akin to private citizens.” The letter emphasized that Harry and Meghan should no longer be addressed as their royal highnesses and that they do not perform official duties on behalf of the monarch.
“Working royals” are defined as members of the royal family who carry out formal engagements representing the sovereign and receive administrative and financial support from the Royal Household. Those currently recognized as senior working royals include King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, among others.
The letter from the Royal Household noted that since Harry and Meghan stepped down from official duties in January 2020, their status has remained distinct from that of working royals. This distinction grants them personal latitude concerning financial independence and privacy, which the Royal Household said it will continue to respect.
Harry and Meghan, referred to formally as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, reportedly reside in England’s Cotswolds region and have enrolled their children in private schools for the current academic year. When the couple resigned from their royal roles, the late Queen Elizabeth II withdrew their royal highness titles, public funding, and police protection.
The letter also reaffirmed that the charitable activities undertaken by Harry and Meghan are personal endeavors carried out in a private capacity rather than official royal engagements.
The clarification arrives amid ongoing questions regarding the security arrangements for the Sussexes, specifically whether state-paid protection will be provided. Britain’s Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which operates independently under the interior ministry, determines the allocation of police protection for royals and other high-profile individuals. Following the couple’s 2020 departure from royal duties, Ravec downgraded Harry’s security detail, a decision he unsuccessfully challenged in court. With the couple’s return, Ravec’s risk management board is expected to reassess the threat level and security provisions for the family.