Harry and Meghan ‘surprised’ by King’s letter reiterating non-working royal status

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly "surprised" by a recent letter from King Charles III that formally reiterated their status as non-working royals. The directive, issued on the King's behalf by Lord Chamberlain Richard Benyon, aimed to clarify the couple's position to government departments and other official organizations following their return to the United Kingdom from the United States last month.

The letter confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain private citizens with commercial and charitable interests, explicitly stating they are no longer working members of the Royal Family, a status established in January 2020. Their surprise, according to a spokesperson, stemmed primarily from the limited advance notice they received before the letter was publicly circulated, rather than the content itself.

Reports indicate that Harry and Meghan's team saw the document approximately an hour before it was released to the media, allowing insufficient time for discussion or clarification. This communication from the Palace comes amid renewed discussions regarding the couple's royal standing and matters such as taxpayer-funded security now that they are based back in the UK.