King Charles III has reaffirmed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s status as non-working royals after Buckingham Palace circulated a letter clarifying their position within the monarchy.
The letter was issued by Lord Chamberlain Richard Benyon at the king’s direction and reiterated that Harry and Meghan stepped away from representative duties in January 2020.
People reported that the couple received the communication before it was circulated publicly. A spokesperson for the Sussexes told the BBC they were surprised they had not been informed beforehand.
People reported that individuals close to Harry and Meghan said they responded with questions roughly 20 minutes after receiving the letter, but were told the statement had already been shared with the media.
The palace’s position is that there has been no change to the couple’s existing status. Their charitable activities are undertaken privately, while their royal styles remain unused.
Harry is preparing for charitable engagements in Britain, including activities connected with the Invictus Games. The 2027 edition is scheduled to take place in Birmingham.
Uganda has withdrawn from the competition. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s military chief, cited concerns about participating in activities without King Charles’ approval.
Royal commentator Helena Chard described the palace clarification as a firm boundary, while Ian Pelham Turner argued that making the letter public could complicate efforts toward reconciliation between Harry and his family.
The palace has emphasized that the statement does not introduce a new policy. Instead, it restates arrangements established when Harry and Meghan stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020.
Robert Jobson told the Daily Mail that further public exchanges between the king and his younger son are unlikely. Meanwhile, Chard said the monarch’s position leaves little room for ambiguity about who represents the Crown.
