King Charles clears up confusion over Harry and Meghan's U.K. return with letter confirming their royal roles

King Charles has confirmed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will remain non-working royals after moving back to live in the U.K.

Under the monarch's guidance, a letter was sent to 'senior stakeholders' in the U.K. government, military and those who represent the British royal family, confirming that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens and will not be able to use the "HRH" titles of His and Her Royal Highness.

According to U.K. news agency the Press Association, the letter reads, "Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the U.K., we have received a number of requests for guidance. To help avoid doubt or confusion, the King has directed that the following information be shared.

"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.

"This position, distinct from the state and royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected."

The letter, circulated by the King's most senior official, the Lord Chamberlain, stressed that "there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex." It added that the couple's charitable work is a "personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity" and clarified that "In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests."

Harry and Meghan returned to Britain with their two children last month, more than six years after moving to the U.S.

They are believed to have flown into the U.K. privately from California, according to the BBC. Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are set to begin school in Britain this month. AP reported on Aug. 19 that they had already been enrolled, citing a person close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who was not authorized to speak publicly.

King Charles III, who was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in 2024, learned about the Sussexes' plans last month. The BBC said it understood that he "welcomes the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family in a private and personal capacity."

Where will Harry and Meghan live in the U.K.?

The family is expected to settle in a privately owned home outside London rather than a royal property.

The Sussexes also intend to keep their home in Montecito, California, and a vacation property in Portugal. Harry and Meghan do not plan to return to being working members of the royal family.

Why have Harry and Meghan moved back to the U.K.?

The move comes as Harry has sought to repair his relationship with his family, particularly his father, Charles.

After losing a legal challenge over his security arrangements in Britain last year, Harry told the BBC that he no longer wanted the family dispute to continue. "I would love reconciliation with my family," he said at the time.

The family was in Britain as recently as July. During that trip, Harry, Meghan and their children spent time with Charles at his Highgrove estate. The visit also reunited Charles with Archie and Lilibet for the first time since Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Relations between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, remain strained. Reuters reported that the brothers are still barely speaking.

Peter Hunt, a former BBC royal correspondent, said the surprise return is likely to infuriate William.

He told the Press Association, "In the short term, Harry will be able to deepen his rapprochement with his father. And his presence back home will make it harder for his brother to duck a reconciliation. The surprise return of Harry and Meghan is likely to have left William apoplectic."

What are Harry and Meghan doing in the U.K.?

A source close to the Sussexes told AP that Harry will be able to devote more time to his charitable work in Britain, while Meghan will continue running her lifestyle business, As Ever, from the U.K.

Meghan may also return to acting, with Australian news outlet News.com.au reporting that one reason for the couple's decision to relocate to Britain was that Meghan had been offered a role in an upcoming project. A source close to the duchess did not deny the report.

Deadline reported that Meghan has had preliminary conversations about a potential role in the Netflix series The Gentlemen , which would mark her first significant acting role since her marriage to Harry in 2018.

The couple has been based in Montecito since moving to California after stepping away from royal duties in 2020.

The Telegraph reported that Harry wanted a "refuge" in the U.K. and the "freedom to enjoy British summers, see friends and come and go without the 'circus' that has surrounded recent visits."

During their years in the U.S., Harry and Meghan signed deals with Netflix and Spotify and spoke publicly about their experiences within the royal family. Harry published his memoir, Spare , which became a bestseller. Their Spotify partnership later ended, while Reuters reported that Meghan's Netflix lifestyle show was not renewed for a third season.

Harry has also spent years pursuing legal cases in Britain, including disputes involving the British press and a challenge over the level of police protection available to him and his family when they visit the country.