King Charles Makes Harry and Meghan’s Royal Status Crystal Clear After U.K. Return

King Charles has formally clarified the royal status of his son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle following the couple's return to Britain.

In a guidance letter made public on Monday, September 7 (via E! News), an official document on the monarch's authority confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain non-working members of the royal family and are to be treated as private citizens.

The letter states that there's no change to the arrangement the couple reached when they stepped back from their royal duties in 2020.

The document was sent to senior figures across government, the military and other organizations that represent the royal family, after officials reportedly looked for guidance about how to treat the couple upon their return.

It reiterated that Harry and Meghan stepped away from their representative duties back in January 2020 and have not resumed them.

"Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used," Lord Chamberlain Richard Benyon wrote, adding that "the King has directed that the following information be shared."

"The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity," he added. "In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests."

The guidance was clear that their relocation changes nothing. Their move back to Britain doesn't alter their position, it stated, describing their situation as comparable to that of private citizens with commercial and charitable interests. The couple will continue to operate their own office, separate from the royal household.

The letter also made clear whether the couple's royal titles will be in use or not. Harry and Meghan still have their His and Her Royal Highness styles, but they're not to be used, according to the terms set in 2020. The distinction preserves their place in the line of succession while keeping them outside the working monarchy.

The guidance also addressed practical matters. It noted that any security arrangements fall to the relevant police agencies rather than the royal household, and reaffirmed that the couple's charitable work is carried out in a private capacity.

An official said the king authorized the communication to avoid any doubt or confusion about where the Sussexes stand.

"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," the message reads.

The letter comes just days after Harry and Meghan arrived in Britain for what has been described as an extended, though not permanent, stay. The couple relocated with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, who have reportedly been enrolled in school in the U.K. The family is keeping its home in Montecito, Calif.

Their return had set off widespread speculation about whether it signaled more of a reconciliation with the royal family or a step back toward royal life. It seems, according to the letter, that official royal duties remain off the table for now.

Harry and Meghan announced their departure from senior royal roles in early 2020 and moved to California, where they built a life around media, business, and philanthropy. The years since have been marked by public friction with the royal family, which the couple has attributed to media pressure and tensions within the institution.

Charles is currently continuing treatment for cancer and the family is navigating questions about its future. Harry visited Britain over the summer and met with his father for the first time in months, a reunion that fueled speculation about a possible thaw.