King says Meghan and Harry not working royals despite UK return
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have issued a blunt statement in response to King Charles‘s letter outlining their royal status.
The King’s statement, released on Monday, said that the couple are still “no longer working members of the Royal Family”. It also added that their position is “akin to private citizens”, and that “their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.”
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess said: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”
In addition to noting that they were “surprised”, the Sussexes’ spokesperson also said that the statement caught the couple off guard. Following Meghan and Harry’s statement, Palace officials have told the Daily Mail this assertion is “incorrect”, insisting the couple had received the letter before it was released publicly, although they were not consulted on its contents.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have broken their silence (Image: Getty)
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The couple returned to the UK last month, six years after stepping down as senior working royals and moving to the US.
Meghan and Harry arrived at Birmingham airport with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, on August 26.
The couple are still pushing for police protection as they return due to safety concerns about their children’s school run.
Harry and Meghan are also said to have been concerned over the timing of the King’s statement and whether it is linked to a crucial meeting on their security arrangements.
Meghan and Harry pictured with their children (Image: Instagram/meghan)
The King was only told of the move days before the news was made public, and the family arrived just two weeks later.
It is understood they have settled in the Cotswolds, with Archie and Lilibet, now aged seven and five, enrolled in a local private school.
It remains unknown how long the couple plans to reside in the UK.