Palace clarifies Harry and Meghan remain non-working royals after UK return

Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to the United Kingdom, but Buckingham Palace has made clear that they are not returning as working royals.

A letter sent on behalf of King Charles reaffirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain private citizens with commercial and charitable interests. They will not resume official engagements on behalf of the Royal Family, and they will not use the titles His and Her Royal Highness.

The letter was reportedly sent by the Lord Chamberlain to Harry’s team, as well as to the government, military and Lord Lieutenants. Any public engagements undertaken by the couple would therefore take place in a private capacity.

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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 Palace said the arrangement agreed in 2020 remains unchanged. That agreement ruled out a “half-in and half-out” model, which would have allowed Harry and Meghan to pursue commercial interests while continuing as working royals. “The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity,” the letter said.

The couple stepped down from senior royal duties in January 2020 and moved to the United States. They returned to the UK with their children, Archie and Lilibet, last month, but the Palace’s message confirms that their return has not altered their formal status.

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The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.