Prince Harry and Meghan say they are surprised by a letter sent on behalf of King Charles that reiterates they are no longer working members of the royal family and will remain “private citizens.” Multiple outlets report the couple’s spokesperson describes the message as clarifying their official status after their return to Britain.
BBC News and others say the Sussexes were not informed in advance. BBC also reports palace sources deny that they had not been warned. The i and Rappler similarly frame the issue as a lack of prior notice from the king’s office, while outlets also note the letter describes their ongoing commercial and charitable activity as occurring in a private capacity.
Some reporting adds timing and process details: Times of India says the clarification is communicated shortly before the letter is sent to senior officials, and that their security arrangements are handled separately. Overall, outlets align on the core content of the letter—non-working royal status—while differing on whether the Sussexes were told ahead of time and on the emphasis placed on security discussions.
