Prince Harry and Meghan remain non-working royals after return to UK, King Charles reiterates

Britain’s King Charles III has said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain non-working royals and will not be carrying out official engagements on behalf of the Crown, following their return to the United Kingdom after six years in the United States. In a letter sent on behalf of the King on Monday, the UK’s Lord Chamberlain – the most senior officer of the British royal household – said 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 will “continue to be fully respected,” the top Palace official said in the letter, which was sent to senior members of the British government and military, as well as the Duke’s team. “There is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” he added. The letter was issued to reaffirm the status of the Sussex family following several requests for clarity, as the royal family’s new diary period gets underway, CNN understands. Prince Harry and Meghan left the UK for North America in 2020 after stepping back from royal life, and the years since have seen a public falling out with the wider royal family. Despite this turbulent family history, the couple arrived back in the country late last month, along with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who have been enrolled in British schools. According to the letter, all charitable work carried out by Harry and Meghan is a “personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.” “In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests,” it said. It added that all correspondence and administrative questions relating to the couple should be sent directly to their office, “which will continue to operate separately from The Royal Household.” CNN has reached out to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.