Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘surprised’ by King Charles’ letter clarifying their royal status

LONDON, ENGLAND: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were left "surprised" after King Charles clarified that their return to the United Kingdom would not change their status as non-working royals. 

The couple returned with their children on August 26 and are adjusting to life back in the UK, while questions over their security remain under review. Meanwhile, Prince Harry has also shared a glimpse into family life, revealing son Archie’s enthusiasm for Lego.

King Charles clarifies Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal status

King Charles issued a letter of guidance on September 7 confirming that, despite the couple being back in the UK, there would be “no change” to their status as non-working royals. The terms were previously agreed to when the couple moved to the United States in 2020.

According to the BBC, the letter was created after “a number of requests” were received seeking clarification about Harry and Meghan’s status, which was confirmed to be “akin to private citizens.” A spokesperson for the couple told the BBC that the couple had been “a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”

For Harry and Meghan, parents to Archie Harrison and Lilibet Diana, security has been a chief concern surrounding their return to the UK. The BBC reports that a security committee, including Home Office representatives, is being called to examine the level of taxpayer-funded security that should be provided to the Sussexes during their stay in England.

A Home Office spokesperson told the BBC, “The UK government's protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security.”

Their return does not mark a permanent change. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, remains in Los Angeles, although the Sussexes are laying some roots in the UK. According to multiple outlets, their children have been enrolled in a local school for the time being, one they hope remains private.

In 2022, Meghan expressed concern that bringing Archie to school in the UK could turn pick-up and drop-off into a photo opportunity. “Sorry, I have a problem with that,” she told The Cut, adding, “That doesn’t make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child.”

Prince Harry shares Archie’s love for Lego

During a visit to Birmingham Children’s Hospital on July 9, Prince Harry revealed that Archie is obsessed with Lego. The Duke of Sussex was visiting the hospital previously on his current UK trip for charitable work.

Harry visited in his role as patron of WellChild, a British charity supporting seriously ill children and their families, as the organization celebrated 20 years of its specialized nursing program. While meeting 12-year-old Alec Hill and his parents, he said, “Do you know who’s obsessed with Lego? My son, Archie — and he’s a master builder.”

Harry has been WellChild’s patron since 2007 and helped fund the WellChild Nurse program established in 2006. The initiative includes more than 50 specialized nurses across the UK who help families of children with complex medical needs transition safely from hospital to home.

During the visit, Harry met the hospital’s two WellChild nurses. Nurse Nicky Holt, who had met him previously, described their reunion as “wonderful” and said he was supportive of the nurses and hospital staff.

Holt said Harry was “very interested in the families” and their work, particularly how nurses help families manage their children’s complex medical needs at home. She also highlighted his interest in the young patients, their interests and what makes the hospital experience more bearable.

Reflecting on his meeting with Alec, Holt said Harry drew on his own experiences as a father and connected with the boy over their shared love of building Lego as a family. She said moments like that showed how personable Harry is and that staff and families “really felt the buzz” of having him at the hospital.