King Charles says Harry and Meghan have no official royal duties in Britain

Tuesday 08 September 2026 - 14:15

By: Azzat Manal

King Charles says Harry and Meghan have no official royal duties in Britain

King Charles III has reportedly instructed British officials to treat Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as private citizens during their stays in the United Kingdom, reinforcing the arrangements established after the couple stepped back from official royal duties.

The clarification was conveyed in a formal letter signed by Lord Binyon, a senior royal protocol official, and sent to senior government and military figures as well as representatives of the Crown across the country. The message followed Harry and Meghan's return to Britain with their two children last month for what has been described as an extended stay, with their children also beginning at a British school this week.

According to the letter, issued at the King's direction, Harry and Meghan do not represent the monarch and are not working members of the Royal Family. Their position is instead to be treated in a similar manner to that of private citizens with personal commercial or charitable interests.

The document also reaffirmed that the couple's use of the style "His Royal Highness" and "Her Royal Highness" remains suspended. Their charitable activities are considered private undertakings and are not carried out on behalf of the monarchy.

The arrangement means that even when Prince Harry participates in initiatives closely associated with him, such as the Invictus Games, he does so in a personal capacity rather than as a working member of the British royal institution. The position reflects the terms agreed when Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties in 2020.

The written clarification comes after repeated calls for clearer rules governing the couple's status and ahead of a key meeting involving senior royal figures and officials responsible for decisions concerning royal security.

The timing has reportedly caused some surprise within the Sussex camp, with a spokesperson indicating that the couple had not been informed in advance of the communication.

Security remains a particularly sensitive issue for Prince Harry. Following his departure from official royal duties, he lost automatic access to publicly funded police protection and has since pursued legal and political efforts to obtain greater clarity over security arrangements for himself and his family when they are in Britain.

A threat assessment was reportedly carried out in July, but Harry has yet to receive the full details of the outcome. The dispute over security has remained one of the most contentious issues surrounding his relationship with the British establishment since his move away from frontline royal duties.

The latest clarification therefore appears to reinforce the separation between the Sussexes and the working Royal Family, while leaving their personal and charitable activities outside the formal responsibilities of the monarchy.