Following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relocation back to the United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace issued formal guidance clarifying the couple’s exact standing within the royal framework.
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1. Reaffirming Private Citizen Status
At the direction of King Charles, the Lord Chamberlain sent a guidance letter to senior government, military, and royal officials to prevent any ambiguity regarding the Sussexes’ return.
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Strictly Non-Working Status: The letter reiterates that Harry and Meghan remain non-working members of the royal family, upholding the terms of the original 2020 Sandringham agreement.
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HRH Styles in Abeyance: While they retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, their “His Royal Highness” and “Her Royal Highness” styles remain suspended and are not in use. Their position is officially defined as being “akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
2. Managing Security and Operations
The formal correspondence also addressed logistical and protocol questions raised by officials following the family’s relocation to the UK with children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
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Independent Offices: The palace emphasized that all correspondence and philanthropic initiatives must continue to be handled through the couple’s independent private office rather than the central Royal Household.
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Security Protocols: On the matter of security, the guidance explicitly noted that operational protection questions remain strictly under the purview of relevant police authorities and RAVEC, rather than being managed as official state duties.