King Charles reaffirms Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals
Buckingham Palace clarifies that Prince Harry and Meghan are not working royals after their move back to Britain.
King Charles III has issued a formal clarification that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are not working members of the British royal family, even though they have recently returned to live in the United Kingdom.
The couple stepped back from royal duties in January 2020 and moved to the United States. Last month, Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, relocated to Britain with their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five. The clarification comes in a letter from the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official of the Royal Household, which was issued after "a number of requests for guidance" following the couple's move.
The letter states that the Sussexes "stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the sovereign, and are no longer working members of the royal family." It also reiterates that they should not use the styles "His Royal Highness" or "Her Royal Highness," describing their position as "akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests." Their charitable work is carried out in a personal capacity, and they remain formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The clarification comes amid questions about security. Harry lost his automatic police protection after stepping back from royal duties and later lost a legal challenge to have it reinstated. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), an independent body overseen by the Home Office, decides who receives police protection. With Harry now reportedly living permanently in Britain, Ravec's risk management board is expected to reassess the threat level he faces.
The working royal family currently includes King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Several cousins of the late Queen Elizabeth II also carry out official duties. Harry and Meghan remain outside this group.
The Sussexes are reportedly living in the Cotswolds region of England and have enrolled their children in private schools there. Their return marks a significant change from their post-2020 life in the US, but the palace's latest statement makes clear that moving back to Britain does not restore their status as working royals.