…that Harry and Meghan no longer represent the royal family. Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, stepped back as working royals in 2020 and had been living in Montecito, California, before this summer’s move back to Britain with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
A Divided Family, But United on One Point
Harry’s contact with his father has resumed to some degree. The two met at Highgrove in July, along with Queen Camilla. No similar meeting or contact has taken place between Harry and William, who remain estranged.
Royal author Russell Myers said the King and the Prince of Wales are aligned regardless of that personal gap. “The King and William are completely united on the Sussexes not representing the royal family,” Myers said, adding, “It’s without a doubt how in sync they are on this matter.”
According to Myers, William treats his father’s relationship with Harry as separate from his own. “William’s view is clear — any relationship his father has with Harry or the Sussexes as a family is entirely up to him,” he said. “But looking toward the future, he will have no relationship with them, in a working or private capacity whatsoever.”
Away from that tension, William and Princess Catherine have kept their attention on family and public duties. Royal commentator Simon Vigar described their approach simply: “It is keep calm and carry on. They see it as a sideshow and ancient history.”
Their September included Prince George beginning his first year at Eton College, along with royal engagements such as a joint appearance for a World Suicide Prevention Day event in Liverpool. Former royal press secretary Ailsa Anderson said the couple are “shining a light on things that are important to them” while trying to avoid distraction.
Royal historian Amanda Foreman suggested the pressure will not ease. “It will be incredibly draining,” she said. “They will always have to look over their shoulders and factor them in… they’ll get lots of jabs and questions: ‘When are you going to make up with your brother?'”
The Palace’s Formal Clarification
That informal agreement between Charles and William runs alongside a more formal step taken by the King. A letter from the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, was sent to government and military officials and to Lord Lieutenants around the country, as well as to Harry’s team.
“To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that (this) information be shared,” the letter stated. Its central point was that Harry and Meghan remain non-working members of the Royal Family.
The letter reiterated 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.” Their return to the UK has not changed that status.
It also confirmed the Sussexes still cannot use the styles “His Royal Highness” and “Her Royal Highness” in the manner tied to official duties, and that “the charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.”
The communication effectively reaffirms the 2020 Sandringham Agreement and closes the door on a “half-in, half-out” arrangement that would have let Harry and Meghan combine independent ventures with working royal duties.
Reporting from AP News noted concern among Palace observers that ambiguity around the Sussexes’ position could make them appear like a parallel royal court now that they are living in Britain again. Palace sources said making the letter public was preferable to having its contents emerge later through leaks.
Surprise Over the Letter’s Timing
The substance of the letter may not have been unexpected, but its arrival reportedly was. A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan told the BBC they “were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”
BBC royal correspondent Daniela Relph reported that the couple’s team received the letter roughly an hour before it was released publicly, and that Harry was in a meeting and could not be reached immediately. By the time his representatives responded, publication was already imminent.
Royal sources gave a different version, telling the BBC that Harry and Meghan had in fact been made aware beforehand. The two accounts of how much notice was given differ, though the letter’s public release before any response from the couple is not disputed.
What Remains Unresolved: Security
Harry and Meghan’s UK return is expected to bring further public visibility. Harry is expected to continue his involvement with the Invictus Games, due to be held in Birmingham in 2027, and there have been reports Meghan could return to acting. Their children are expected to attend school in Britain.
None of that is barred by the King’s clarification, which instead defines the capacity in which such activities take place — as private endeavors, not royal ones.
One issue the letter does not settle is security. Harry has long disputed the level of publicly funded police protection provided to him since leaving working royal life. The letter states plainly that “any operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant police authorities.”
Those decisions rest with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as RAVEC, rather than the Palace itself, meaning the couple’s move back to Britain has not resolved that long-running dispute.
The Lord Chamberlain’s letter also directed officials toward Buckingham Palace for related questions: “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.”