The Sussex non-working royal status of Prince Harry and Meghan has been formally restated in a letter sent on behalf of King Charles to government departments, military officials and the monarch’s local representatives across the country.
The letter, dispatched by the Lord Chamberlain, a senior Palace official, makes clear that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain private citizens who cannot carry out official engagements or use their HRH titles, following their return to the UK from California last month with children Archie and Lilibet.
Letter confirms Sussex non-working royal status remains unchanged
The correspondence has been sent to Prince Harry’s team, government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants, according to Palace sources. Lord Lieutenants serve as the Royal Family‘s local representatives and are frequently involved in the logistics of royal visits and engagements.
‘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,’ the letter states.
Any engagements the Sussexes carry out will be in a private capacity and will not constitute representation of the Royal Family, the letter makes plain. ‘The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity,’ it adds.
The communication appears designed to head off any ambiguity ahead of expected public appearances by the couple this autumn as they settle back into life in the UK and pursue their charitable interests.
Sandringham Agreement terms still in force
The letter reaffirms the position established in the so-called Sandringham Agreement of 2020, under which the Sussexes left royal life. That arrangement explicitly ruled out a ‘half-in and half-out’ arrangement, meaning Harry and Meghan could not pursue independent commercial activity while retaining working royal status.
The King’s letter instructs that any questions from organisations about how to receive the Sussexes, ‘particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace’.
The couple’s departure from royal duties in 2020 was acrimonious, and they later chronicled the period in a Netflix documentary. Prince Harry subsequently published a best-selling memoir, Spare, and Meghan launched an online food range, As Ever, as the pair established financial independence in California.
Their return to Britain this summer came as a surprise. Their children are to attend school in the UK, and Prince Harry is expected to resume support for his charities, including the Invictus Games Foundation. The Invictus Games are due to be held in Birmingham next year. There have also been reports that Meghan is considering a return to acting.
Security arrangements remain unresolved
The letter also touches on the unresolved question of Prince Harry’s personal protection in the UK. ‘Any operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant police authorities,’ it states.
Prince Harry has raised concerns about what he considers inadequate police protection. The Palace’s position is that security decisions rest with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as Ravec, which determines protection for royals and public figures. No resolution to that dispute is indicated in the letter.
Palace sources said it was preferable to publish the Lord Chamberlain’s letter openly, in the interest of transparency, rather than allow it to surface through leaks. Representatives for Prince Harry and Meghan had been contacted for a response at the time of publication.
The letter’s wide distribution, covering government, military and civic channels, underscores that the Sussex non-working royal status carries practical implications for public bodies that may encounter the couple as they resume a visible presence in Britain. The Buckingham Palace address for any related queries is expected to handle those requests directly when they arise this autumn.
