A letter authorized by King Charles III confirmed on Monday that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will continue not to use the styles of His and Her Royal Highness. The couple recently returned from California to Britain for what they described as an extended stay with their children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5. The arrangement dates back to 2020: Harry and Meghan retain their HRH styles formally, but those styles remain in abeyance and are not used publicly or officially.
The letter, signed by the Lord Chamberlain, emphasized that Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties in January 2020, according to NBC News. It explained that their current status is separate from the official responsibilities carried out by the working Royal Family. This arrangement allows them personal freedom in terms of financial independence and privacy as they requested. The letter also said their charitable work is undertaken in a private capacity and described their position as similar to that of private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the letter was shared with Harry’s team on Monday. They chose to make it public because they expected it would leak anyway and wanted to avoid claims of secrecy. NBC News also reported that the guidance was released after a number of requests for clarification about the couple’s status following their return to Britain.
NBC News reached out to the Sussexes for comment but did not receive a response. Prince Harry and six other claimants were ordered to make an interim payment of £9.54 million toward Associated Newspapers’ legal costs after losing a High Court case involving allegations of unlawful information gathering. The publisher said its overall legal costs were £34.5 million, with the final amount recoverable from the claimants still subject to assessment.
The legal battle was part of Harry’s broader tensions with the British press and concluded shortly before the couple’s return to Britain was announced. Front pages across newspapers were filled with unconfirmed stories about Meghan possibly returning to acting after her departure from the show “Suits.” Reports have linked her to a possible new acting project in Britain, although details about any future role have remained uncertain. Reuters reported that speculation had included a possible role in Netflix’s “The Gentlemen.”
Prince Harry and Meghan had stepped down from official royal duties in 2020 to pursue independent careers, according to a report from CBC News. Despite leaving their formal roles, they have remained in the public eye. Harry has accused the royal family of neglect and the press of damaging his life. He has also criticized the government for not offering sufficient security to allow him to return home safely. Reuters reported that the family arrived back in Britain in late August after six years based primarily in the United States. Their children are expected to attend school in Britain during the family's extended stay.
The latest confirmation from King Charles III leaves no doubt about their current standing within the royal household. Their move back to Britain does not restore them as working royals, and the palace guidance makes clear that their independent charitable and commercial activities should not be treated as official royal duties.