Prince Harry, Meghan not working royals, King's letter says
· Toronto Sun
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Though Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to the U.K. , they won’t be working royals or be allowed to carry out official engagements, according to a letter sent to Harry on behalf of King Charles III, the BBC reports.
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The letter clarifies the status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved back to the U.K. from California with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet last month.
According to the Lord Chamberlain, a top official at Buckingham Palace, Harry and Meghan are not permitted to use the titles of His and Her Royal Highness and will stay “private citizens.” It makes clear any engagements carried out by the pair will only be done in a private capacity and won’t represent the Royal Family.
The Palace said the letter was sent to Prince Harry’s staff, military officials, Lord Lieutenants and any government department or staff involved in royal engagements.
Getting ahead of it
The letter is seen as a kind of disclaimer from the Palace, as it expects Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to ramp up public appearances in the fall in support of their charities. It reinforces the Sandringham Agreement of 2020 reached under Queen Elizabeth II when Harry and Meghan left the U.K. — that they couldn’t pursue any commercial interest of their own while continuing as working royals — and that the King intends to maintain the “no half-in, half-out” status.
“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,” the letter says. “The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.”
We’ll answer questions, not Harry and Meghan, letter says
The message adds that any questions about what kind of reception Harry and Meghan will get, particularly where public funds are involved, ought to be directed to Buckingham Palace.
“Any specific questions from official and State organizations about the courtesies which should be extended to the Duke and Duchess, and particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace,” the letter states.
Harry’s security concerns
Prince Harry has said in the past that his family hasn’t received adequate police protection while in the U.K., but Buckingham Palace says that’s for the Royal and VIP Executive Committee to decide.