King Charles III issued a letter this week about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle clarifying questions about their royal statuses after the pair returned to the United Kingdom, and Us can reveal more about the decision.
“Per an agreement when they left working royal status, everything they wanted to do that was public-facing with certain patronages was to be approved by the palace so they would not be confused as official working royals,” a source exclusively tells Us. “With them moving back to the U.K., it’s been confusing.”
According to the insider, Charles’ intention was to make things clear to the public that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, were not coming back as senior members of the royal family and will continue not to use their His and Her Royal Highness or “HRH” titles.
“Charles wrote a letter to clarify they are not working royals and they are considered private citizens so there is no confusion,” the source continues. “The king just wanted the public and press not to be confused. They can’t be one foot in and one foot out.”
An second source adds that Harry and Meghan’s “plan was always to come back to the U.K. as non-working royals.”
Us has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
Earlier this month, a letter was released on Charles’ behalf to address Harry and Meghan’s statuses and titles following the couple’s move back to the U.K.
“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity,” read the letter written by royal household senior officer Lord Chamberlain. “In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
Harry and Meghan stepped away from the royal spotlight in 2020 and ultimately settled in Montecito, California, with their two children: Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. Six years later, Harry and Meghan surprised the world again after they decided to return to the U.K. with their kids, who reportedly just began their new school year.
The letter continued, “It is well known 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. 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.”
After the letter made headlines, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan told the BBC that they were “a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.” The couple’s team allegedly saw the letter about an hour before the news broke. By the time they got into contact with Harry, the letter was reportedly almost published.
