King Charles Clarifies Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Royal Status
2 min readTHE RUNDOWN
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are officially back in the U.K.
- King Charles released a letter to address whether or not the couple is working for the royal family again.
- The message comes after a “number of requests for guidance.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry officially returned to the U.K. on August 26. As the couple’s rep clarified in a previous statement shared with The New York Times, the move is not permanent. On September 7, King Charles released a letter to answer further questions about their relocation after a “number of requests.”
“To help avoid doubt or confusion, the King has directed that the following information be shared,” the palace wrote, via People. Charles specified the couple’s status has not changed and addressed their security arrangements. The letter said in full:
It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of The Royal Family. This position, distinct from the State and Royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.
It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used. The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.
The letter also addressed the couple’s security arrangements. When Meghan and Harry decided to separate themselves from the Firm and move to the U.S., the couple lost their right to publicly funded protection; Harry has since been fighting in court to receive police protection for his family when they are in the country.
“Any specific questions from official and State organizations about the courtesies which should be extended to the Duke and Duchess, and particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace,” Charles shared in his letter. “Any operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant Police authorities [including the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC)].”
Overall, the notice makes it clear that the couple and the royal household will continue to function as two separate entities.
Meghan and Harry haven’t specified how long they will be in the U.K. Their rep confirmed they have kept their home in Montecito, California, though.
Last month, an insider told The Times, “It’ll be an extended period of time. It could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more.”