King Charles officially addresses Prince Harry-Meghan Markle's UK move, rules out royal roles
LONDON, ENGLAND: King Charles has delivered a blow to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by confirming that the couple will not return as working royals following their move back to the UK.
The monarch has made it clear that their decision to return to England does not change the arrangement established when they stepped down from royal duties in 2020.
King Charles rules out Harry, Meghan royal return
According to a letter sent on behalf of King Charles by the family’s lord chamberlain, Harry and Meghan will not be working royals carrying out official engagements.
A top palace official told the BBC that the couple are “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests” and cannot use their titles of His and Her Royal Highness.
“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 reportedly stated.
The message confirmed that the Sussexes’ 2020 agreement to stop being working royals after leaving the UK remains in place despite their return to England.
The letter also ruled out a “half-in and half-out” arrangement, meaning the couple cannot serve as working royals while continuing their independent business endeavors.
“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity,” the letter added.
Palace sources told the BBC that the message was sent to Harry’s team, as well as the UK government, military, and lord-lieutenants.
On the same day the news of the letter broke, Harry was seen in the UK for the first time since the move.
He appeared at Tower Bridge Studios, where the London audio and visual studio shared pictures of the 'Spare' author signing its wall.
Prince Harry, Meghan return to UK with children
The Sussexes returned to England two weeks ago with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, for an “extended period,” six years after quitting their royal duties. The family reportedly flew privately from California and landed at Birmingham Airport around lunchtime on August 26.
Page Six reported that the couple moved back across the pond to be closer to Charles, who is battling cancer, and to ensure their children build relationships with Harry’s family.
The king learned of the couple’s decision days before the bombshell news broke.
In July, Charles made the first move toward reconciliation by inviting Harry and Markle to his country home of Highgrove.
Queen Camilla also attended the reunion, which marked the first time the monarch had seen Archie and Lilibet in four years.
Harry and Markle relocated to California in 2020 after stepping back as working members of the royal family.
Since then, they have released various projects, including a Netflix docuseries and Harry’s memoir, 'Spare,' while pursuing entertainment and business ventures outside the monarchy.
After some business projects fell apart, the couple decided to move back to the UK despite Harry’s rocky relationships with his family, including his estranged brother, Prince William.
The couple will “continue with their business enterprises” and live in a “non-royal residence” as they search for a house, potentially in the Cotswolds.
