King Charles III has officially confirmed the status of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as non-working royals. This confirmation was made in a letter sent by Lord Richard Benyon, the Lord Chamberlain, who is the head of the Royal Household. The correspondence was distributed to relevant officials within the U.K. Government, military, and regional representatives of the monarchy.

Background on Harry and Meghan’s Departure

In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their royal roles to start a new chapter in America. Their decisions since leaving have included public criticisms of the monarchy during their interview with Oprah Winfrey and through Harry’s book Spare, released in 2023. Although they recently returned to Britain, there has been no indication from them of a desire to return to their previous roles.

The Importance of the Letter

The letter serves as a reminder and clarification of their status. It ensures clarity for officials on how to interact with the couple. It was shared with Newsweek, underscoring the couple’s position as akin to private citizens, engaged in personal commercial and charitable activities.

The letter explicitly states: The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. It reiterates their departure from royal duties in January 2020, and confirms their titles remain unused.

The Royal Household’s Position

Despite speculation about their roles, the palace reaffirmed the couple’s non-working status. This communication helps manage official interactions with the couple by guiding government and state organizations on protocol.

The letter further advises that any official queries regarding their status should be directed to Buckingham Palace, while security matters should involve the police. Correspondence with Harry and Meghan should go directly to their office, which continues to function independently of the Royal Household.

Future Appearances

In the coming months, Harry and Meghan are expected to visit charities they supported as working royals. Media coverage is anticipated during these events, similar to Harry’s previous trips to the U.K. last year.